The construction of the famous Spiegeltent signals the approach of the 2016 Harcourts Hawke's Bay Arts Festival.
The one twenty-foot and two forty-foot containers arrived from Wellington in the early hours of Friday morning, containing the 19 tonnes of structure required to erect the 340-seat Spiegeltent.
Built in the 2001 to withstand the New Zealand climate, the tent known as The Pacific Crystal Palace will serve as the main entertainment hub for the 13-day festival.
Performances will also take place at The Blyth Performing Arts Centre at Iona College, the Century and Municipal Theatres in Napier and several art galleries in Hastings.
The Pacific Crystal palace is owned by a New Zealand consortium of festivals and is lavishly decorated with stained glass windows, wood panelling and flooring, ornate lighting and mirrors. As with its 2015 predecessor, The Famous Spiegeltent, it is equipped with a stage, bar area and individual seating booths.