Editorial: We can't let rain spoil fun next time

How often have we heard people say they had nothing better to talk about than the weather.

That couldn't have been further from the truth during the past few days.

There would be few among us who weren't cursing the persistent downpours during the past three days. The rain simply refused to stop.

Such weather couldn't come at a worse time. Organisers up and down the country have put hours of work into planning outdoors events.

Mount Maunganui's big New Year's Eve event on Marine Parade featuring two stages of entertainment had to be cancelled because of heavy rain and strong winds. It was a good call because it wouldn't have been safe to hold it - let alone pleasant to attend.

Rotorua's parade was rained on too but not completely thanks to a contingency plan. The annual New Year's Eve Rock The Lake Mardi Gras was held in the Rotorua Energy Events Centre - the first time it has had to move in 16 years because of bad weather.

Back here in Tauranga, thousands still filled The Strand and downtown the Mount, undeterred by the weather.

It is a shame there was no back-up indoor venue to allow the celebrations to go ahead.

The city was blessed in August with the opening of the Tect Arena at Baypark. The $41 million indoor stadium was the first new major sporting facility to open in the city since Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre in the 1960s.

This amazing facility has the potential to bring major artists and events to Tauranga - but if not in use could surely be used to host the acts that have travelled far and wide to perform at one of the country's most popular New Year's Eve celebrations. Not to mention the revellers from around the country anticipating the big party.

One good thing to come from the wet weather was the lack of drunken disorderly incidents. Emergency services all reported a quiet evening and given the chaos seen in previous years we must be thankful for that.

However it is no secret New Zealand experiences wet summer weather.

We should be grateful visitors to the Bay braved the rain and did not leave town in their droves.

However it wouldn't be unwise for organisers to consider a back-up plan for next year's event.