PRESS RELEASE

9 June 2017

9 June 2017

Winter Festival set to turn the heat up

A street-fest will be one of the highlights of Palmerston North’s inaugural Winter Festival. Palmerston North City Council is hosting the three-day Festival (June 28 – 30) for locals and Lions rugby tour visitors to come together to celebrate winter and the importance of rugby to the city. As well as the two day street-fest in George Street other highlights are, the British and Irish Lions Male Choir concert, an outdoor rugby-themed photographic exhibition, a world-record rugby scrum attempt and a historically driven rival rugby match.

The NZ Rugby Museum is high on the must-see lists for the rugby tourists, with 22 bus loads already confirming visits. New Zealand Rugby Museum Director Stephen Berg says the Museum’s busiest days will be immediately before and after the British and Irish team play the Hurricanes on Tuesday June 27.

“The tourists on board the buses are not just from Britain and Ireland. Some of them are coming from Hong Kong and Singapore.”

“We want the whole city to benefit from the tour,” says Berg. “We are encouraging visitors to stay in Palmerston North once they’ve visited the Museum, whether it is spending a few hours or staying a few days to take in the City’s Winter Festival. We know some of the fans are basing themselves in Palmerston North during this leg of the tour and heading down to the capital for the game”.

As well as the tour buses, 1600 touring camper vans filled with Lions’ fans will make their way along State Highway One.

Palmerston North is also hosting the World in Union international conference for rugby academics, practitioners and educators that week.

“We warmly welcome our visitors and want to show them some great Manawatū hospitality,” says PNCC Community Engagement Manager Ian Littleworth. “The Winter Festival is also an opportunity for our community to get together and enjoy some of the planned events and activities”.

Details of the events follows:

WINTER FESTIVAL EVENTS

Two day George Street Festival

A two-day street fest in George Street starting on Thursday 29 June is the highlight of the Winter Festival. Open-sided marquees will straddle the street so people can socialise, enjoy live music, food and beverages, and hands-on winter-themed activities. During the street fest, George Street and Coleman Mall will be open to pedestrians only.

Music lovers can enjoy a great line-up of artists on the main stage at the George St Festival including Auckland rock trio Brendon Thomas and The Vibes, the NZ Army Stage Band, renowned Wellington-based Frank Burkitt Band, local band Truly Made and musician Samir Loumachi.

Adding to the festive atmosphere on the Friday evening (30 June) is the Village Night Market.

George Street is a culinary haven with its cafes and licensed restaurants and there will be selected food trucks parked on Coleman Mall from 4pmboth days, so visitors will be spoilt for choice. A licensed bar will be operating in George Street from 4.30pm both days.

Activities and entertainment on both days: 11.30 – 1.30pm and 4pm – 9.30pm. Entry is free.

Rugby Showcase

Literally kicking of the Winter Festival on Wednesday 28 June is a fiercely fought battle for the King’s Cup. This is rugby rivalry at its best between the New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force.

King George V first awarded the cup to the NZ Army in 1919. A rugby tournament was held after the First World War, as soldiers waited for boats home. The New Zealand Army sides defeated Army sides from “Mother Country”, South Africa, Canada and the Royal Air Force losing just to the Australian Army. NZ Army then defeated Mother Country in the final.

Today the King’s Cup is played for annually between NZ Army, RNZAF and NZ Navy.

The match takes place at Central Energy Trust Arena at 2.45pm. The Army travelling band will be on hand entertaining the crowd.

British and Irish Male Choir

Another festival highlight is the British and Irish Lions Male Choir performing at the Conference & Function Centre at 2pm on Friday 30 June. Prior to leaving the United Kingdom, the choir performed for the Lions Squad. Palmerston North is one of four venues the choir is performing at during their three-week tour supporting the Lions. The Choir will be supported by Palmerston North Boys High School’s OK Chorale and Freyberg High School’s Bellas and Fellas.

Tickets are $10 (plus fees) from TicketDirect.

World’s Largest Scrum Record Attempt

If you want to say you are a world record holder, join in the World’s Largest Scrum attempt on Thursday June 29. More than 1565 participants are required to break the record held by Fukuroi in Japan. It takes place at Palmerston North Boys’ High School with the public welcome to attend as participants and spectators from 12pm. Participants are requested to arrive early to register. The record attempt will happen at 1.30pm. Entry is free

Black Boots Legend outdoor photographic exhibition

Catching visitor’s and local eyes will be the Black Boots Legend gallery. This outdoor exhibition features 150 rugby images from 1972/73 All Blacks European tour as captured by photographer Barry Durant. The majority of the images will be on display outside Te Manawa until 12 July.

The line-up of images creates a tunnel into Te Manawa and the NZ Rugby Museum. “It’s pretty exciting to have this exhibition at this time,” says Berg. “We are experimenting with new materials, and making use of space we haven’t used before.”

Adding further interest to the images are individual labels written by sports commentator Phil Gifford which details the story behind the image.

Inside Te Manawa’s foyer hanging from the rafters will be 20 2.4m x 1.8m PVC single pic banners. These will depict the local players and All Black captains. On scaffolding outside will be 65 banners with two pictures each, printed on fabric.

OTHER ACTIVITY

Police Road Safety Checkpoint

Central Districts Police are also welcoming tourists with a Road Safety Checkpoint and Fatigue Stop at the Ohakea Weigh Station on 26 Junefrom 10am – 4pm. This will give touring drivers an opportunity to engage with local police, have a break with some food and refreshments and learn about road safety issues. Contact for this is Inspector Brett Calkin, Central Districts Road Police Manager.

Details about the Winter Festival are available on www.ManawatuNZ.co.nz/WinterFestival and PNCC Facebook Events Pages. #palmywinterfest

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