Famous festive lights under cloud
Auckland’s famous Franklin Rd Christmas lights could become another Covid-19 casualty, as organisers suggest residents pull the plug this year.
Christmas revellers have marvelled at the extensively decked-out houses on the Freemans Bay street for the past 27 years. Recently, the festivities have attracted around 150,000 visitors over the weeks leading up to Christmas Day.
However, the tradition could be forced to take a break this year, thanks to a coronavirusshaped Grinch.
Long-time Franklin Rd resident and organiser Ross Thorby said a decision could come as soon as today after a meeting with neighbours.
Thorby said it was not something organisers had taken lightly, as they had been in discussion with health authorities for several weeks.
‘‘We think it’s the responsible thing to do,’’ he said. ‘‘Even though it’s only a small risk, to alleviate that risk is far beyond our resources.’’
Organisers had considered using the NZ Covid Tracer app and QR codes, but ensuring they were being used at the road’s 10 entrance points over several weeks would be a big job.
Thorby also worried
patrolling visitors to make sure they scanned the QR codes would take the fun out of it.
‘‘I don’t want to cause any angst or extra work, it’s already a lot of work for them [neighbours] to do it.’’
The tradition started with a couple of residents putting up lights before it evolved into a huge community-spirited endeavour, he said.
Franklin Rd residents of 27 years Dona and Gavin White, who along with Thorby were among the ‘‘originals’’ to start lighting up their homes, agreed it would be best to skip this year.
‘‘It’s not worth the safety of the people, everyone’s just conscious of trying to do the right thing,’’ Dona White said, adding that she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if someone got sick.