$50 million summer lineup
Wellington is gearing up for a $50 million season with another event joining the packed summer calendar – and hopes of more to come.
More than 150,000 people are expected to visit the capital for events this summer including rap icon Eminem, kapa haka festival Te Matatini, and an exhibition of terracotta warriors that have now been unboxed at Te Papa.
The calendar kicked off on Saturday with Beers At The Basin, and includes 25 events until the end of March, culminating with CubaDupa.
In another free exhibition, announced today, rows of terracotta warrior-shaped lanterns will light up the forecourt of the national museum.
The 2-metre figures were commissioned for the Beijing Olympics in 2007, and 40 will be on display in the capital for three weeks from the first day of the Chinese New Year, February 5.
Also part of the city’s stacked summer schedule are shows by comedians Catherine Tate and Eddie Izard, two Black Caps games, visits by celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, musicians Calexico and Bryan Adams, and extreme sports spectacle Nitro Circus.
Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (Wreda) general manager events Warrick Dent said tickets to many of the summer shows were selling well.
Wreda has estimated more than 150,000 visitors from outside the region will attend these events, with a total spend of $51m expected.
‘‘I wouldn’t come out and say it’s the busiest summer ever but it’s certainly one of the busiest we’ve had in some time.’’
The biennial New Zealand Festival is on an off-year but there may yet be another international act announced.
March will be particularly busy, with Eminem, The Hollies, John Prine, Bryan Ferry, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and John Farnham all playing within the space of a week.
‘‘We haven’t had a run of concerts like that in Wellington for a number of years, if at all.’’
Homegrown, at the end of March, is tracking to break its ticket sales record yet again.
Te Matatini, the country’s largest kapa haka competition, will be held at Westpac Stadium from February 20.
Described as the pinnacle
event for Ma¯ ori performing arts, the three-day festival brings in 3000 performers from across New Zealand and abroad.
‘‘It’s great to bring that event to different audiences but also for Wellington a really exciting event to have here.’’
Te Papa head of art Charlotte Davy said it was an honour to host Terracotta Warriors: Guardians Of Immortality as it would be the first time Wellington has seen the pieces of ancient history in 30 years.
The museum welcomed the eight life-sized warrior sculptures and two terracotta horses in November and continues to build a display which includes treasure found in imperial tombs of an ancient Chinese capital. The exhibition of the 2300-year-old sculptures will open on December 15.
Te Papa has also commissioned local artist Kerry Ann Lee to create a ‘‘dreamscape transit lounge’’ called Return To Skyland, to help viewers reflect on Chinese settlement in New Zealand.