NZAF flies to rescue after B-52 no-show
A sell-out, 50,000 strong crowd made New Zealand music history braving supposed ‘‘cyclone conditions’’ to see Six60.
Stores sold out of rain ponchos as the city prepared for the worst, but the skies mostly held back as the Dunedin band – loved and loathed for its catchy, radioready music – yesterday staged one of the country’s biggest concerts for a New Zealand band. It sold out Auckland’s Western Springs Stadium, a site graced by behemoth acts such as David Bowie and Mick Jagger. THE North Island’s biggest biennial airshow had to fly in a late replacement yesterday when their star attraction B-52 Stratofortress was a no-show.
A large Wings Over Wairarapa crowd at Masterton’s Hood Aerodrome was able to
Elsewhere, revellers enjoyed a dry Saturday at Splore music and arts festival on the Firth of Thames coast ahead of today’s expected rain, and coped with a chilly Electric Avenue Festival in Christchurch. The Kapiti Coast got the best of the sunshine for its Coastella festival.
Forecasters are warning today will feel like the start of autumn as the mercury plunges, and wind and rain batter both islands. Temperatures will reach maximums of 15C in Christchurch, 11C in Wellington and 13C in Auckland. instead enjoy a fly-past by an NZRAF Orion.
Event chairman Bob Francis said the United State’s Air Force’s decision to pull their B-52 from the programme at the last minute was disappointing.
‘‘Recognising that we lost the B-52 this morning, I’m really delighted with the way the show has gone. We had a bonus that the Air Force could bring in the Orion this afternoon. We had some great feedback and we’ve got an incredible crowd. It’s been a great success,’’ he said.
Broadcaster Mark Sainsbury was hoping to see the Stratofortress but made do with the replacements. ‘‘The WWI aircraft were great. It’s always a buzz to see those things.’’