Mermaids to entertain at sheep festival

9 March 2011

Spectators at Te Kuiti’s infamous “Great NZ Muster” are use to being inundated with anything sheep-like, but this year they’ll also get to try out some home grown kai moana.

“Fish-a-licious” hit trio The Mermaids, are set to blow the top off the centre stage at the Waitomo District Council’s inaugural sheep festival in April. The Auckland-based band have kindly agreed to take second billing to the 2000 or so cavorting sheep who will be let loose down Te Kuiti’s Main Street at 1pm for what is thought to be the worlds largest sheep run.

Once that’s done though vocalists Joe Cotton (of True Bliss fame), Pauline Berry and Tammy D’Ath, along with guitar maestro Martin Winch will turn it up. Performing a diverse and super-fun repertoire of dance and pop music from across the eras, organisers say The Mermaids will just add that extra fishy treat to what has become a fantastic but not to be missed iconic kiwi day.

MC’s, Ronnie Phillips from Classic Hits and balloon man John Martin will once again be entertaining the crowds and introducing the numerous other acts both local and national

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Starting dead on 10am, The Great NZ Muster sponsored by United Water will continue right through until 4pm. The event has become so popular that around 7,000 spectators are expected to line Te Kuiti’s main street when the sheep make the one-kilometre headlong dash. With $1000 in prizes for guessing the number of sheep, the exact number is a closely guarded secret known only by one person, local farmer John Fagan.

John personally selects six truckloads of fit, young Romney ewes and not even the truck drivers know the exact number, says Waitomo District Council’s iSITE Team Leader, Debie Glover.

“Last year the right number was guessed at 1079 – but there could be any number between 1000 and 2000 sheep on the run,” reveals Ms. Glover.

But what isn’t a guarded secret is the record 120 stall holders selling anything from quality Alpaca wool garments to traditional Maori arts and crafts as well as cuisine.

The Great New Zealand Muster including the Coopers New Zealand Shears Running of the Sheep has become an iconic Kiwi event attracting visitors from all over the country – and from around the world.

“For visitors, another benefit is that the Great New Zealand muster coincides with the final day of the New Zealand Shearing Championships in Te Kuiti’s Waitomo Cultural and Art Centre,” says Ms. Glover.

“This means visitors can also go and watch the best shearers from New Zealand, Australia and even the United Kingdom battle it out on in the finals of the New Zealand Shearing Championships.”

ENDS

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