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.

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