Remember, Remember the Fifth of November

Make sure to get a good view of the harbour next Friday (5 November) for one of the city's most popular events - the Pelorus Trust Sky Show.

Kicking off at 9.00pm, the Sky Show fireworks display will light up the skies for 12 minutes, rather than the usual 15 minutes.

Community Events Manager Rebecca Hardie says the plan is to condense the same amount of fireworks into a much busier display.

"The firework display has been designed by internationally renowned pyrotechnician Robert McDermott," she says.

"This year we've moved away from a pop music soundtrack to one by Wellington percussion band, Strike, so it will be a wonderful blend of beats and blasts. You'll be able to hear it on Classic Hits 90.1 and ZM 90.9. There will also be speakers dotted around the waterfront.

"And it's great that the fifth of November happens to fall on a Friday this year, which will be music to the ears of parents with firework-loving littlies, no doubt."

As usual, there will be extensive road closures in the area.

Traffic moving east away from the central city on Oriental Parade and Evans Bay Parade will be restricted to one lane and one direction from 7.00pm - 10.00pm so emergency vehicles can access the area quickly if needed.

Evans Bay Parade will be closed to through traffic (access to residents only) at the Cobham Drive intersection from 7.00pm - 10.00pm. There will be large numbers of parking wardens on patrol that night. Any illegally or dangerously parked vehicles will be towed.

To control traffic on Mt Victoria, Alexandra Road will be closed at the intersection with Constable Street in Newtown once the maximum safe parking capacity is reached. There will also be parking restrictions around the lookout along Alexandra Road, and a one-way traffic flow will be in place on the roads around the lookout.

Rebecca says people should not stop anywhere on the highway between Petone and Wellington.

"It's ridiculously unsafe and unfair to other motorists - so please don't do it. There are plenty of hills just above the Hutt Road where you can get a good view.

"In fact, it's better that you don't drive at all that evening. If you can walk into town or take a bus, please do so. Traffic usually comes to a complete standstill on the night of the Sky Show," she says.