Sky Show to light up Wellington for Guy Fawkes
NEWS RELEASE
29 October 2008
Sky Show to
light up Wellington for Guy Fawkes
Wellington’s
skies will come alive this Guy Fawkes Night as the Pelorus
Trust Sky Show returns to the city. World-renowned fireworks
maestro Robert McDermott – best known for the stunning
fireworks display which closed the Sydney Olympics – will
wow Wellingtonians with his pyrotechnic
mastery.
The show starts at 9pm on 5 November and
will run for about 15 minutes to a soundtrack broadcast on
Classic Hits and ZM. A spectacular array of different
fireworks will be launched from three barges in the harbour.
The best vantage points to see the display will be from the
waterfront or the surrounding hills.
The
Council’s City Events Manager John Dawson says Wellington
is privileged to have someone of Robert McDermott’s
experience to ‘choreograph’ the display. “This will be
Robert’s 14th year managing the Sky Show and we’re
delighted to welcome him back to the Capital. Robert is one
of the world’s top fireworks artists - his expertise means
Wellington can look forward to an unforgettable display of
fireworks that’s on a par with any other city in the
world.”
The event is hugely popular with
Wellingtonians and around 100,000 spectators are expected
from around the region. People are encouraged to take public
transport or walk. People driving into town for the show
should leave early, allow plenty of time, and make sure they
park their car legally. Boating spectators must stay at
least 300m away from the fireworks barges and keep their
boat speed to a maximum of five knots.
The Ride Of
Your Life Spectacle also takes place earlier in the evening
and is sure to be the perfect curtain-raiser to the
fireworks. Ride Of Your Life is a three-hour show featuring
live music from the Beatles Review and the Beat Girls, and
choreographed water-sports performances from jet-skiers,
wake-boarders, Thunder Cats and more. The event is a
fundraiser for the Wellington Free Ambulance and the public
are invited to make a gold coin donation. The fun starts at
Frank Kitts Park at 6pm.
Spectators at both events
will have to observe the city’s 24-hour liquor ban that
applies in the central city area, Oriental Bay and on the Mt
Victoria summit. People are not allowed to consume liquor in
the liquor ban area except in licensed
premises.
Major traffic restrictions will be in
place on the night to avoid the gridlock of previous years.
Traffic controls will be introduced on Oriental Parade and
on Mt Victoria summit. Oriental Parade will be reduced to
one lane and one direction – eastbound away from the CBD
– for the evening. A one-way traffic flow will be in place
on the roads around the Mt Victoria Lookout. There will also
be parking restrictions around the Lookout area and on
Alexandra Road.
For further details please
contact:
David Christopher, Council Communications, tel
801 3281 or 021 227 8567
Wellington City Council
news releases are also available daily as Web Alerts through
the Council's website, www.Wellington.govt.nz. To subscribe,
select the Web Alerts icon on the home
page.
ends