Nelson lights up

Gordon Preece

The five-day Te Ramaroa Light Festival in Nelson City sparked around 25,000 to 30,000 attendees during its first three nights. Organiser Michaela Blackman said this year’s event, which switched off on 4 July, had “exceeded expectations”.

“It’s gone really well, in fact it has exceeded expectations, the numbers have been really high, the weather has been really good, it’s been really well received,” she says. “I think [the public] enjoyed the community stage and they’ve really enjoyed Cathedral Hill. All the installations up there are tipped

The review panel’s findings have been described as the most significant review of local government since the 1989 reforms and the 2002 Local Government Act.

The panel believes “the struc- ture and operation of councils will need to be renewed to ensure local government is fit for the future,” and suggests that the proposed regional boundaries outlined in the Government’s resource management reforms –in which Nelson and Tasman are combined – should be the starting point of discussions.

Nelson Mayor Nick Smith believes any changes to Nelson City Council should only be made if residents and councils support the move, an assertation agreed on by the review panel, but thinks the topic of amalgamation is worth discussing.

“We need to start a conversation about the future of local government in our region,” he says.

“Reform is inevitable.”

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“Something where they have mulled cider and wine, just like winter time treats… just really warm outdoors things which get people out and feeling like they’re in winter.”

The Te Ramaroa has lit up Nelson for the past five nights, what is another event you would like held in the central city in winter to liven up the area?

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“Anything that involves the community regardless of whether it is a family fun day or a community dinner, just as long as it gets everyone together.”

“I think the light festival really ticks the boxes, I can’t think of anything else that we would need over winter.”

“At the light festival it was really good to see people out and about, I can’t think of another thing (in winter).”