Local Board media release
Local Board Invites Love Boat Ashore
21 June 2012

The Great Barrier Local Board is proudly supporting the inaugural ‘Partners In Paradise’ singles event taking place on the island 3-5 August.

Singles from across the country are invited to participate in a cheeky weekend-long event combining warm island hospitality and charm, with unique visitor attractions and activities.

The Tryphena Netball Team play host for this event and have devised an imaginative programme of activities. Organised activities include; two dinner nights, a world-class hypnotist show by master performer Tony Banfield, ‘island style’ speed dating and live music by local rock band Beatz Workin.
Weekend activities on the island cater for a range of interests and tastes. These include chartered fishing trips, local market shopping and café lunch, a guided bush walk to the islands natural hot springs, a pig hunting expedition, and a nude model drawing class for the artistically inclined.
“We encourage people of all ages across the region, and beyond, to come to our island for great weekend of fun Great Barrier style,” says Local Board Chair Paul Downie.

“Our Board believes Partners In Paradise has the potential to grow into a significant calendar event for our island. We believe it has the potential to capture imaginations and hearts from around the region and bring first time visitors to our island. For these reasons, we are excited and proud to be both supporting and promoting this event.”

Tickets can be purchased through eventfinder.co.nz. Ticket price covers two dinner nights’, evening entertainment, free shuttle transfers to and from local accommodation from ferry and airport, and provide you access to discounted flights and ferries through sponsors Great Barrier Airlines and Sealink.
Event attendees travelling to the island via the Sealink ferry on Friday 3 August will be treated to a ‘Love Boat’ themed ship cruise experience, inspired by the 1980’s television show ‘The Love Boat’.

Partners In Paradise is a fundraiser event for the Tryphena Netball Team. Funds raised will assist with off-island games and travel, as well as purchasing new team uniforms and equipment.

Partners In Paradise is suitable for people 18 years old and over. Tickets are limited to 350, so act swiftly to book your seat aboard the Love Boat.

‘Like’ Partners In Paradise at www.facebook.com/PartnersinParadiseGBI and be kept up to date with latest event news and discounted accommodation offers.

For information on this event, and other local events and visitor information, visit www.thebarrier.co.nz

Win tickets, return flights and luxury accommodation!

To win yourself and a friend free event tickets, luxury accommodation and return flights to the island, visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/greatbarrier and enter our online competition.

Further Information

Why is the Great Barrier Local Board supporting this event?
• A key priority of the Board, outlined in its Local Board Plan, is to support and back local events that can grow the island’s visitor industry and thus support growth in their local economy.
• The Board want to develop some of its local events into regional events that promote the island as an attractive place to visit, live and do business.
• The Board want to reverse population decline over the past 15 years and encourage islanders to stay and interest others in moving there.
• The Board has a particular interest in keeping its young people on the island and attracting other young people through fun events and growing new employment opportunities on the island, particularly in visitor related industries.
Interesting facts about Great Barrier Island:

• The Great Barrier Local Board has the smallest population of any local board area with approximately 1000 permanent residents currently living on the island.
• Great Barrier is alone in being a local board area with more males than females. There are around 10 percent more males than females living on Great Barrier Island.
• Great Barrier is 90km in distance from downtown Auckland – making it the most geographically remote and distant of all 21 local boards.
• Great Barrier runs on sustainable energy and has no reticulated mains power. Each household supplies its own energy by combination of wind and solar charged batteries and generator.
• Over 60% of the island is DOC administered land.
• The Maori name for Great Barrier Island is Aotea.
• The name Great Barrier Island was bestowed upon the island by Captain James Cook
• Great Barrier is home to 75 rare and endangered indigenous species including, the chevron skink, brown teal duck, banded rail, kaka and rare native orchids
• The Government's Rural Broadband funding will provide expanded cell phone and broadband coverage to the island later this year

www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/localboards

ENDS

© Scoop Media