ANDY JACKSON/STUFF

Philip Mullan, Irene Mullan, Andy Whitehead, Oscar Napman, 2, Debi Whitehead, Andrew Pentelow, Snapper Young, and front with feet up is Andy Whitehead.

More than 100 people will be dressing up and going to the ball this weekend - and in their best gumboots, too.

The Oaonui Hall, in South Taranaki, is holding an inaugural fundraising gumboot ball on Saturday evening. 

Dairy farmer Andy Whitehead, one of the organisers, said about 150 people were expected to party the night away with DJ Dman Entertainment while supporting a $70,000 project to renovate the 120-year-old building.

"It's a revival of something that used to happen 10 years ago," Whitehead said.

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"It used to be a regular event on the coast so we wanted to get it up and running again.

"We want to have it moving around the region in the coming years."

Whitehead said the ball, being staged with Coastal Vets, would raise money towards making the wooden building accessible to people with disabilities.

This will include an accessible toilet as the present facilities are up two flights of stairs.

Whitehead said he saw the need for the work when his late father, Ben Potroz, suffered a stroke.

The committee has already received a $30,000 Lottery grant and $20,000 from the TSB Community Trust.

"On Saturday we're looking to raise a couple of thousand towards it," Whitehead said.

"There's no set dress code. You can come dressed up in your finery and your gumboots, but you won't be judged if you don't."

Tickets cost $20 and participants will bring along their own alcohol. A supper will be provided.

The evening will include an auction for gumboots signed by the Barrett brothers and the Warriors rugby league team.

 - Taranaki Daily News