Gearing up for New Year's Eve

Planning is already well underway for New Year’s Eve celebrations for Wanaka and Queenstown, Queenstown Lakes District Council arts and special events facilitator Jan Maxwell said.

“In particular we are absolutely thrilled that the Queenstown celebrations have attracted a major sponsor with the Wensley Development Group signing up to sponsor both the fireworks and the two bands,” Mrs Maxwell said.

It was the third year the company had supported the Queenstown New Year’s Eve celebration.

“The major contribution from Wensley Development Group is a huge boost and we also receive significant sponsorship from the Caversham and Lion Foundations and the Community Trust of Southland but we couldn’t do New Year’s Eve in Queenstown and Wanaka without the input of an army of helpers,” Mrs Maxwell said

It was a partnership that included the police, sound, lighting and staging staff, 12 band members, four DJ’s, six pyrotechnic people, the harbourmaster and deputy harbourmaster, 24 security staff, Lakes Contract Services, Works Infrastructure, Otago Southland Waste Services, Hirequip, sponsors and council staff.

“And of course its all pulled together by our Summerdaze event management team Dinamics Destination Management Limited which has managed New Year’s Eve now for five consecutive years,” Mrs Maxwell said.

A liquor ban would once again be applied to both Wanaka and Queenstown central business district areas from 27 December, 2007 through to 5 January, 2008

“Our celebrations are very much a family occasion where everyone can have a great time and feel safe,” Mrs Maxwell said.

New Year’s Eve celebrations would get underway from 8.30pm at Earnslaw Park and Marine Parade and on the Lake Wanaka waterfront and Ardmore Street, also from 8.30pm.

Both fireworks displays would be timed for midnight with celebrations winding up at 1am.

Once again Connectabus and Arrow Express will operate additional transport services to and from Queenstown on New Year’s Eve.

For further information please contact Jan Maxwell 03 441 0499 or Alastair McIlwrick, Dinamics Destination Management Limited, 0274 502 624.