WAVERLEY Waverley is a small town 20 kms west of Wanganui. The town services the surrounding rural community but clearly is affected by an economic drain to Wanganui. Waverley is struggling and clearly the next decade will be a test. Unfortunately Waverley has yet to claim to be the ‘capitol’ of something and needs an identity. The town is well known for its farming and thoroughbred stables. The race horse Kiwi was trained in the paddocks of a Waverley sheep farm by owner Snow Lupton, and went on to go from last on the final bend to win the 1983 Melbourne Cup. Waverley has a fine racetrack and has regular representative horse track meetings. The Churches in Waverley have some historic background. The two Waverley hotels are vintage to the more an active past. The Waverley War Memorial is central and well maintained. Waverley has a number of cafes and coffee shops and is a popular place for tourists to stop for a break before entering the Taranaki region.