HUTT CITY COUNCIL NEWS RELEASE

1 June 2016
Hi-tech acts to light up awards night in historic factory

Lower Hutt’s highly anticipated Technology Valley Awards will feature cutting edge hi-tech live entertainment when staged in the landmark Ford factory building in Seaview next week.

The awards are part of the second Hutt STEMM Festival from 4 June, which recognises and celebrates achievements in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Manufacturing in Lower Hutt.

Wellington-based live entertainment company Moe will use the spacious historic Ford factory building during the awards to perform a show that combines contemporary circus with new technology.

It will include Glow Lyra, which combines a circus aerialist with a custom-built apparatus made of electroluminescent wire.

LED Cats - performers wearing glowing cat masks – will mix with Technology Valley Awards guests throughout the night and show off a new creation, custom-built LED “infinity mirrors” used as trays to serve drinks.

Moe co-founder Imogen Stone says designing the infinity mirrors, which reflect LED lights via a mirror, was a challenge. “This will be their first outing. We can’t wait to see them in action ourselves.”

Being involved with the Technology Valley Awards was the perfect fit for a hi-tech live performance company, Ms Stone says.

“We want you to be intrigued and get up close to our Cats. We have an incredible line up of artists. We want to blow the audience’s minds and for you to see something new.”

More than 3800 people work in the hi-tech sector in Lower Hutt, the fourth largest number in New Zealand.

This year the number of awards has expanded to nine and includes Young Science Achiever, Outstanding STEMM Educator and STEMM Project of the Year, as well as Emerging and Outstanding Individual, Emerging Business and Business of the Year.

Tickets to the awards dinner on 9 June are now on sale.

The Hutt City Council-backed STEMM Festival, 4-12 June, has also been expanded to nine days and features more than 40 events. The programming is designed to appeal to the general public, including several events for children, as well as industry professionals.

The programme includes a pop up science session for children, advances in solar powered recharging technology, robotics workshops, laboratory tours and a Women in Science Breakfast.

For video of Moe’s LED Cats in action go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfysIP43Wyo

For more on Technology Valley Awards including ticket bookings, go tohttp://technologyvalleyawards.co.nz/

The Hutt STEMM Festival runs 4-12 June. For the full programme go towww.huttstemm.nz

ENDS

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