Media Release
22 March, 2013

Taupo's Indian summer set to entice visitors this Easter

With warm and sunny weather forecast, out-door activities galore and a busy events schedule, Taupo offers lots of options for an action packed Easter holiday. Easter in the Taupo region promises to be a colourful extravaganza of activity. Visitors and locals alike won't be short of things to do with a huge range of events on offer.

Highlights for motorsport fans will be the IRC Race Meeting at Taupo Motorsport Park on 30th and 31st March, and the Street Rod Nationals. This event will see the streets of Taupo come alive while entrants enjoy a night cruise to a drive-in movie at the Taupo Amphitheatre and a cruise around the Taupo Motorsport Park track. Over 20,000 people are expected to visit the Tongariro North Domain on Saturday 30th March to view the hot rods on show.

More than a thousand participants plus support crews are expected to descend on Taupo for the weekend of 6th and 7th April for the Oxfam Trailwalker. Teams of 4 will be sponsored to complete the 100km event, raising money towards Oxfam New Zealand’s work in some of the world’s poorest communities. Participants will be treated to stunning views as the course traverses some of the most spectacular terrain of the Central Plateau. 280 teams have already entered this year’s event, and Oxfam New Zealand looks set to meet its $1 million fundraising target.

The southern Lake Taupo town of Turangi is hosting more exciting events. The Polocrosse Four Nations, New Zealand’s first ever polocrosse tournament, will be held over 4 days at Turangi Park. For a taste of local food and art check out the Turangi Colours Art and Food Festival offering tours of the Rangipo Power Dam. For a more active option, autumn is a great time to bike the Tongariro River Trail. The 9km mountain biking track is open between Turangi and the Tongariro National Trout Centre and is easily negotiated by novices.

Easter is one of the most popular times of year to take on the challenge of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Now open as far as the Blue Lake, there are ideal vantage points to take in steaming Te Maari Crater. A new track takes visitors from the Emerald Lakes to Oturere Hut and out to the Desert Road. Remember to check with Turangi or Taupo i-SITES for the latest track and transport information.

"The Easter break is a great excuse to sample the new Tongariro Alpine Crossing track while leaving plenty of time to take in some of the region’s popular outdoor activities," commented Vanessa Freeman, General Manager for Destination Great Lake Taupo. "Whether you come for one of the Easter events, hop on your bike or just want to relax and enjoy our beautiful lake, Taupo is certainly shaping up to be the place to spend your Easter."

For more information on what to see and do throughout the Great Lake Taupo region visit www.GreatLakeTaupo.com

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>