The NZ Army will be conducting a military exercise in Central Hawke’s Bay over the next three days.
Soldiers from the Army’s 5/7 Battalion will undertake the exercise in the Wakarara area from today through until Sunday.
Soldiers will be on foot and in vehicles on Wakarara and Makaroro Roads, and in the surrounding areas.
The exercise will also involve the firing of blank ammunition rounds.
A big weekend ahead for the Landrover Horse of the Year, which culminates with the Olympic Cup on Sunday.
The six-day event got underway on Tuesday, with South Island riders the stars of the show so far, taking a number of titles.
Today will see the start of the dressage test in the Oceania Eventing Challenge this morning, with the Silver Fern Stakes late this afternoon.
Tomorrow is cross country, with Sunday being cup day where the biggest trophies of the show are awarded.
The main prize is the Olympic Cup, with local rider Brooke Edgecombe aboard LT Holst Andrea set to defend her title.
Full details and tickets are available on the website www.hoy.kiwi
With a number of events happening over the weekend, no severe weather is expected for Hawke’s Bay and Tararua District.
The forecast for Saturday is generally fine weather, while isolated showers are expected Sunday morning.
On Monday however, Metservice says severe westerly gales could affect exposed parts of Central Hawke’s Bay and Tararua District for a time.
Rain or showers along with a southerly change are also forecast for Monday.
After raising $2000 for Farmstrong last year, the second Patangata Tavern Bark-Up for Mental Health is on tomorrow.
Entries closed earlier this week for the bark-up, which also features a kids novelty section.
Last year’s event attracted many competitors and onlookers, as well as a crew from TV3’s The Project.
The kids novelty section will get underway at 4pm tomorrow, with the first bark in the main section at 5pm.
A number of sponsors have once again come onboard for the event, and those going will be in with the chance to win raffle prizes, which include a $500 Man Cave prize pack; a side-by-side or quad service valued at $600; and a corporate Gun Club Shoot.