Hundreds enjoyed the Tirama Matariki Light Glow over Queen’s Birthday weekend. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV
EMMA BROWN
[email protected]
The weather wasn’t on their side, but the community ensured organisers of the Tirama Matariki Light Glow saw the bright side of the weekend.
Ngati Kahungunu Iwi events manager and Public Dreams Trust chairman Te Rangi Huata was so pleased with support for the event he wants it to become an “iconic” annual event in Masterton.
The light show, which is an off-shoot of Hawke’s Bay’s Fiesta of Lights, was held at Queen Elizabeth Park from Friday to Sunday in the evenings.
“The venue worked very well,” Huata said. “Our plan is to ask the council to come back, and the miniature train society, maybe with an extra night in future years.”
Miniature Train Society vice-president Barry Stroud said the event was “fantastic, absolutely brilliant”.
“[The turnout] exceeded our expectations, even despite the weather.”
The miniature train was running full force all weekend, selling 650 tickets in three hours and 1600 tickets over the three days.
Stroud joked that the little train was like a Japanese bullet train as they worked to give everyone a ride.
“The train is covered in mud right now, but it worked very well,” he said.
Stroud said the society would happily support the event coming back.
“We’re hoping for bigger and better next year”
Huata said the event got the best turnout during the worst weather.
“Feedback from the event was very positive from families,” he said, with many commenting about how they enjoyed the sculptures, interacting with the lights, and running through the light tunnel.
Other than “a small glitch” on Saturday when the lights went out for 15 minutes, the rest of the event ran smoothly, he said.
