Food festival salvaged

STILL ON: The LJ Hooker International Street Food Festival at Alfred Cox Skate Park is all go despite an application for a special licence to sell alcohol at the three-hour festival on July 1 being turned down. There were concerns the plug would be pulled on the event, which had been dependent on the sponsorship of three local wine, beer and cider producers, but Hauora Tairawhiti stepped in with support to ensure it would go ahead. The festival will be held in conjunction with the Sequence Skate Jam, which will include a demonstration by several of New Zealand’s top vert ramp skaters. The joint event kicks off Gizzy Food Week. From left are Gizzy Food Week event manager Jacque White, Food Week and street food festival organiser Amy Spence, Wanita Tuwairua-Brown of Hauora Tairawhiti and George Searle of LJ Hooker. Picture by Paul Rickard

GISBORNE’S international street food festival has been given the go-ahead to take place at Alfred Cox Skate Park, after the district health board agreed to step in and help to fund it.

The LJ Hooker International Street Food Festival and Sequence Skate Jam competition at Alfred Cox Skate Park were in danger of being cancelled after the district licensing committee decided yesterday not to grant a special alcohol licence for the event.

However, event organiser Amy Spence said co-operation with Hauora Tairawhiti had ensured an alcohol-free festival would still take place on July 1.

“While it is very disappointing to not have the licence granted, we are extremely happy the event will go ahead with the backing of the community and the support of all our very loyal sponsors.

“It is because of this the food festival and skate jam will still go ahead. We are now full-steam ahead organising the final event details.”

Ms Spence said the combination of the international street food festival and skate jam competition would pair top quality sporting entertainment with some of the best food, in a family-friendly environment.

“As organisers, the Gizzy Food Week team are really excited to bring this one-off national skate competition to Gisborne and combine it with their own passion for street food.

“We can’t wait to see the park in action, including a demo by New Zealand’s top vert ramp skaters.”

Opposition to alcohol licenceHauora Tairawhiti, Tairawhiti Police and local iwi had all opposed the licence application, mostly due to the skate park’s historical alcohol-free ethos.

However, Hauora Tairawhiti chief executive Jim Green said the health board still wanted to show that a great community event could go ahead, and be drug, alcohol and smoke-free.

“The viability of the event was dependent on sponsorship from three local wine, beer and cider producers. To ensure this family event can go ahead, Hauora Tairawhiti has agreed to support the event by diverting health promotion funding."

Mr Green said the values of the Skate Park were well defined and lots of work had been done to make sure it was a safe place for young people to gather.

“Ensuring it remains drug, alcohol and smoke-free is a big part of keeping it safe. Hauora Tairawhiti believes supporting youth to make good decisions about alcohol, drugs and smoking are an important focus of our health promotion work.

“We need to get alcohol back into perspective in our community so we can minimise the very real harm it can cause. Events can be enjoyable without the need for alcohol. Instead, the focus will be on celebrating the fresh food so abundant in this district."

Health board chairman David Scott said the festival’s focus on youth was “a really good fit” for the Hauora Tairawhiti’s health promotion work.

“Previous food festivals have been well run and if we can support this community event and help maintain the kaupapa of the park — surely that is a good thing.

“The question that is being asked is does alcohol have any place, regardless of how well managed, in a setting where being alcohol-free is a core value?”