Interest in a recently formed women's group has overwhelmed organisers.
The first meeting of the Ladies' Hub social group in Clinton drew more than 100 women, who crammed into the supper room of the Clinton Community Centre earlier this month.
Clinton woman Ruth Mitchell said she, her daugher-in-law Annalyse Mitchell, and locals Tania McKenzie and Rebecca Bungard were chatting one day and decided there were not enough ways for women in the area to socialise.
There were plenty of interest groups in existence but none were focused on women, while many young women had moved to the district and did not know how to meet or make contact with those already there.
The idea behind the initial meeting was to gauge interest and gather ideas about what women were after in terms of social gatherings and activities.
Ruth Mitchell said they were "absolutely staggered'' by how many women turned up to the first meeting.
"I would have been pretty chuffed if I'd seen 30 women in the room.''
At the meeting, people were asked what sorts of social activities they were interested in and information was shared about how to contact existing sport and hobby groups.
"A lot of those groups are struggling for numbers but sometimes it is just a lack of a shove in that direction,'' Mrs Mitchell said.
A couple of craft groups were already "cranking into life'' since the meeting.
Many women expressed interest in wine, book and movie clubs.
"I think we've created a monster,'' she said.
Mrs Bungard said there had been talk in the town of getting something organised for local women for a while.
"We just jumped with it, picked it up and carried the ball.''
The group was about letting people know what was available.
"There was obviously a need for women to get together.''
The Ladies' Hub will meet throughout the year and help organise groups interested in different things.
Miss New Zealand, Deborah Lambie, will speak at the next meeting, in August.
