Riverboat jazzes up music festival

The smooth sounds of jazz floating across the waters of Tauranga Harbour will be something to look forward to over Easter.
Kewpie, the old kauri boat that once plied the inlets of Northland on Fullers' cream and mail run, will become The Sebel Trinity Wharf Jazz Riverboat for the duration of the 47th Tauranga National Jazz Festival.
It will take three trips a day on the harbour during the festival, offering a mix of all sorts of jazz to up to 60 passengers and, no doubt, to many on the shore as well.
Festival director Arne Herrmann said the riverboat would highlight and celebrate Tauranga's picturesque harbour and surroundings.
"We want to show everyone visiting the city during the festival that we live in one of the most stunning cities in the country and we are proud of it," Mr Herrmann said.
The Sebel Trinity Wharf Jazz Riverboat will depart from the hotel's pier - so passengers might even get to rub shoulders with some of the stars staying at the hotel, such as the headline act, The Blind Boys of Alabama.
The Sebel Trinity Wharf hotel general manager Gary Dickman said that sponsoring the jazz riverboat was "the only thing to do".
The hotel had been in Tauranga for three years and while the first two years were a "settling in" period, the business was now an integral part of the city and proud to be part of the community and it was keen to contribute to that community, he said.
Mr Dickman said the jazz festival was "so old and big - and if we can't support an event that's so prestigious we shouldn't be here".
After being invited to attend the launch of the jazz festival before Christmas and thinking he was just going to hear about a night of music on The Strand, Mr Dickman said that once he had heard festival director Arne Herrmann's presentation he became quite excited about the chance to be involved.
He was also keen to see other businesses, particularly those in the hospitality industry, support the festival.
"With thousands of people coming to Tauranga for the festival, it's the hospitality industry that benefits and it would be good to see more of them supporting the festival.
"Arne and his team could do with sponsorship and if everyone chips in we could have a hugely wonderful event," Mr Dickman said.
Mr Herrmann said having large companies support the festival would really help showcase Tauranga. Port of Tauranga has pledged to support the National Youth Jazz Competition for three years and the Sebel's sponsorship would be for at least two years.