Expert input to events considered

Some of the region’s events’ coordinators may look at a more unified approach in the planning of their events and seek help from tourism experts in the future following a busy weekend.

South Canterbury was packed on Saturday and Sunday with major events happening throughout the region, including the 50th Waimate Shears, the Waimate 50, the Starlight Festival and the Fairlie Heritage Market Day.

Waimate 50 event spokesman Rob Aikam said kicking off the motorsport event in the same weekend the Waimate Shears was held had been a good thing as they ‘‘worked in well together’’.

‘‘I’m more than happy to work in with the shears committee about upcoming events. It’s great for the town.’’

Aikman said the group had been looking at developing a longer term plan for the organisation of the event.

‘‘We’ve been looking at a two to five year plan, giving ourselves some stability.’’

This would include the possibility of working with tourism experts, he said.

‘‘We’ve built this event up and it needs to be managed and take it to the next level.’’

He said it was important the event kept its identity of being ‘‘a point of difference’’.

The Waimate Shears, hailed an ‘‘absolute success’’ by one of its organisers, saw large crowds pouring into the event’s new $800,000 pavilion, and many visitors to the town.

Waimate Shears Spring Society executive officer Eileen Smith said the event was held from Thursday to Sunday.

She said working in with the Waimate 50 event organisers to promote the events next year could be a possibility.

‘‘Perhaps if the event continues to get bigger, and if we’re going to be hosting it for more days than normal, we need to speak with the Waimate 50 organisers and work in together with them.’’

She said looking ahead the group could look at working with tourism experts in the planning of the future events.

‘‘It’s not something we’ve ever considered but I don’t think you can ever have too many ideas,’’ she said.

‘‘We’d be interested in talking to others, with experience, about what we could do.’'

She said the event had been ‘‘wonderful’’ for the town, and it was good to have two major events on in town at the same time.

The committee would have a meeting within the next week to follow-up on the weekend’s event.

The Starlight Festival was based at Mt Cook at the weekend, and had received the assistance of Nga¯i Tahu Tourism, Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve Board chairman John Hearnshaw said.

While the event had been a success, he said the next festival, held every two years, would probably be held in Tekapo.

‘‘It’s far more accessible there,’’ Hearnshaw said.

This year’s was the third festival, and the first to be held at Mt Cook.

Hearnshaw said tourism was a major part of the festival, as well as educating people about limiting light pollution.

ChristchurchNZ District marketing Mackenzie executive Annabelle Bray said the organisation had also assisted Starlight Festival organisers.

She encouraged event organ- isers in the region to collaborate with tourism experts when planning events, as well as working with organisers of other events.

There were many different ways to promote events that some organisers might not be aware of already, she said.