2 February 2005

Huge Chinese fireworks shipment lands in Capital

A huge collection of fireworks - expected to produce one of the biggest, brightest and longest fireworks displays seen in Wellington - has arrived and is being assembled ready for detonation this Saturday (5 February) night.

The fireworks have been brought as a goodwill gesture by a delegation from Beijing that will arrive in Wellington on Friday.

The display will also provide a spectacular culmination of the Chinese New Year celebrations in the city on Saturday. Wellington City Council Events Manager John Dawson, who is helping to organise the fireworks display, says it will be "truly enormous".

"It's going to bring the city to a standstill from about 9.45pm on Saturday night, and it'll be a great way to mark the end of the Rugby Sevens - the crowds will still be heading into town from the Stadium."

The delegation from Beijing - one of Wellington's Sister Cities - arrives in the Capital on Friday. The delegation will be formally welcomed by Mayor Kerry Prendergast at a ceremony at noon. The delegation is led by Mr Jin Shengguan, Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress.

Beijing is also supplying technicians to set off the fireworks. The fireworks display is expected to be bigger than the city's annual Guy Fawkes display and will run for around 25 minutes. Three barges with a series of smaller rafts strung out in front of them will be used in the harbour.

A 40-strong acrobat troupe from the China Acrobatic Circus Show, accompanying the delegation, will perform the traditional dragon dance in the Chinese New Year parade starting at 3pm on Saturday in Courtney Place, will put on a spectacular display at the Chinese New Year celebrations in Frank Kitts Park, and then perform in a stage show at the Michael Fowler Centre on the following night.

ENDS

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