Big Boys Toys Comes South

New Zealand's largest event will also be held in the South Island this year. The wildly successful Big Boys Toys has been the highlight of the Auckland event calendar for four years, and will now also be held at Wigram Airbase in Christchurch, 26 to 28 October 2001, three weeks before the Auckland event. There will be an official launch in Christchurch on 15 February.

Louize Cross, group manager of organiser, dmg world media, says the response to the concept of Big Boys Toys in the South Island has been excellent, particularly from local businesses.

"It's still early days, but the exhibitors we've spoken with are enthusiastic about bringing the fun and excitement of Big Boys Toys to Mainlanders. This first show will be spectacular and probably the biggest event this year in the South Island. We expect more than 100 South Island exhibitors, plus many of the national organisations already involved in the Auckland show.

Last year's Big Boys Toys attracted 51,392 adult visitors. The new South Island show is conservatively estimated to have more than 25,000 adult visitors in its first year.

"It was a great success last year, another year of huge growth, and we'll be building on what we’ve learnt over the years to ensure that the Southern event gets off the ground with a huge bang,” says Louize Cross.

Cordelia Wall says Big Boys Toys has, even before it's official launch, begun to book out.

"A lot of behind the scenes work has gone into the decision to launch Big Boys Toys in Christchurch. The South Island economy is good and a lot of businesses are doing well, so that air of confidence is perfect for this show. Potential exhibitors are keen to show the latest, greatest and best in the South. From just our initial discussions we’ve had people book exhibit space and want to be involved.

"This will be a very interactive event and people will be able to try their hand at all sorts of new and fun things, as well as experience aerial activity like DC3 and helicopter rides."

South Islanders will be seeing a huge range of luxury, 4WD and sports cars, including some of the most expensive and sought after in the country, boats, aircraft, hunting, fishing and outdoor equipment, the newest developments in extreme sports, collectibles, new technology and electronics, and top of the line items from the world’s major brands (some brought to New Zealand just for Big Boys Toys).

dmg world media is New Zealand’s largest exhibition company and has been running successful trade and consumer shows in the South Island for two decades, including the popular Canterbury Home and Interiors Show which will take place in Christchurch two weeks before Big Boys Toys.

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