Ngatimoti Festival draws another large crowd

October 25th
[by David Armstrong]

The ninth Ngatimoti Festival drew another record crowd yesterday, and it wasn't just the perfect Goldilocks weather (not too hot, not too cool, just right) that provided the more than 4000 visitors with a great way of celebrating Labour Weekend Sunday.

The event is now well entrenched as one of the majors in the Tasman fair calendar, thanks not only to its long-weekend timing and picturesque setting but also due to the huge variety of entertainments and activities on offer. Not to mention the friendly atmosphere.

Organisers say that although the final count has not been made, over $20,000 has been raised for the community. All the proceeds will go to Ngatimoti School, which will use it to improve the school grounds which are used by the whole community, as well as to fund some arts, drama or other performances that are mounted for the benefit of the township and riverside settlements between the two bridges.

It seemed that half of Motueka made the trip up the valley, with huge areas used for car parking. Most of the usual attractions were available, such as the bouncy castle and other fairground entertainments for children. A good variety of food and drink providers were on hand, and over 70 vendors of crafts, clothes and nicknacks.

But what sets this festival apart from small ones is the range of interesting, innovative entertainments and challenges spread over the huge area of the school and adjacent firebrigade grounds. Many spectators enjoyed the near-continuous programme of woodchopping competitions and watched sheep shearing or tried wool spinning, while the kids (and townies who would still like to be kids) played with the young penned goats, cows and sheep.

You could pause a while and watch the daring and highly skilled young men throwing their BMXs over the huge clay jumps and check out the vintage cars. The children could help drive the digger to excavate a hole and then fill it up, or get into a Whenua Iti safety harness and try to build and mount their own pile of apple crates.

Of course, one of the central attractions was the range of good quality musical acts at the sound stage, including Solroom, The Brandy Creek Band, Ruby, Trudi Wilson, Ralph Bennet-Eades, Dave Watson Duo, Tamsin and the awe-inspiring Zumba crew.

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