Event not quite Oktoberfest
Re the granting of a licence for wine tasting at the upcoming Artisan Affair at Te Ahu on the weekend of July 16-18 (Bread and water, letters June 1).
This festival has been organised by Arts Far North in the wake of the damage done to local artisans by the global pandemic. Although mainly focusing on craft, it was thought that the festival would appeal more to families if artisan producers of food and drink were included. The main focus however will be on craft work made by practitioners who have lost their outlet with the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 on artists and crafters of many kinds.
It has received some funding from the Creative Communities scheme to enable this.
The food and wine element is definitely not envisaged as a tavern, and the wine-tastings are intended as just that. At most people will have a single glass of wine with food. There will also be a cafe´ serving teas, coffees, sandwiches and cakes etc, run by the SPCA as a fundraising enterprise. This is not a daytime drinking spree, but a family-oriented event, and should have no health or other consequences.
We are aware that the inflexible legislation imposes a duty on the FNDC to investigate and provide information to the local licensing authority, police and Ministry of Health about this, but hopefully the licensing committee will use their common sense in viewing this application.
We are greatly looking forward to the weekend, and hope it will give a much-needed boost to the small artisan businesses and individuals in the area who have suffered so much as a result of the pandemic. It will also provide a fun outing for families in the deep midwinter of Northland.
Reginald Payne
Chairman Arts Far North