Post by Kiwi Frontline on Sept 30, 2017 16:18:32 GMT 12
WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL CANCELS GUY FAWKES AND MOVES FIREWORKS SKY SHOW TO MATARIKI
Wellington's mayor is pulling the plug on the city's 22-year-old Guy Fawkes festival in favour of the Māori New Year festival, Matariki.
Mayor Justin Lester said Matariki ought to be a cornerstone celebration, rather than the long-running November tradition, which marked the anniversary of an attempt to blow up British parliament more than 400 years ago.
Wellington's Sky Show, which is usually held in November, is the largest annual fireworks display put on by a city council in New Zealand.
But from next year, the council will move its annual major fireworks event to the cultural festival in July.
Earlier this year, the council committed $500,000 in its annual plan budget to making Wellington New Zealand's capital of culture, with half of that money pegged for the city's Matariki celebrations in 2018.
The Matariki festival would initially start as a one-day event next year, but would develop into a longer festival.
Lester said plans were under way for a programme of events for the month-long event, which occurs around June and July every year.......
www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/97396436/wellington-city-council-cancels-guy-fawkes-and-moves-fireworks-to-matariki
Wellington's mayor is pulling the plug on the city's 22-year-old Guy Fawkes festival in favour of the Māori New Year festival, Matariki.
Mayor Justin Lester said Matariki ought to be a cornerstone celebration, rather than the long-running November tradition, which marked the anniversary of an attempt to blow up British parliament more than 400 years ago.
Wellington's Sky Show, which is usually held in November, is the largest annual fireworks display put on by a city council in New Zealand.
But from next year, the council will move its annual major fireworks event to the cultural festival in July.
Earlier this year, the council committed $500,000 in its annual plan budget to making Wellington New Zealand's capital of culture, with half of that money pegged for the city's Matariki celebrations in 2018.
The Matariki festival would initially start as a one-day event next year, but would develop into a longer festival.
Lester said plans were under way for a programme of events for the month-long event, which occurs around June and July every year.......
www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/97396436/wellington-city-council-cancels-guy-fawkes-and-moves-fireworks-to-matariki