The Village Street Carnival in Havelock North occurring this morning has a legacy of such events in October/November which began over a hundred years ago with an old English fete (gala) in November 1911.
The Havelockians (a term to describe Havelock people which appeared in the Hastings Standard for acouple of months, but never stuck) were encouraged to dress up in costume, as many did. The Hastings Standard said that there was so much activity planned that the event should take place over two days, not half a day. Of interest to "long winded politicians", said the Hastings Standard, should be the marathon race up Te Mata Peak.
The recent Shakespearean Pop-up Globe Theatre in Auckland has proved to be very popular, and they are planning for it to pop up again this summer. In 1912 there was a worldwide revival in many English-speaking countries of matters Shakespeare, and the Arts and Crafts movement in Havelock North in July 1912 were keen to put on a large Shakespearean pageant in November that year for their annual village fete, the proceeds of which would reduce the debt of the Village Hall (since demolished). A poster competition was held with a prize of one guinea (about $180 today) for the person who could design a poster by 15 October illustrating the pageant.
A "red letter day" was how the Hastings Standard described the pageant on Wednesday afternoon November 20 (in those days it was a six-day working week, and Wednesday was the approved half-holiday in New Zealand from 12pm when many leisure and sporting activities took place. Sunday was the "Lord's Day" and reserved for church).
The pageant attracted large interest and visitors "thronged" into the village from all over Hawke's Bay, and some parts of the North Island. A large procession went around what is now the roundabout, and up Te Mata Rd to the grounds next to where St Luke's Church is now. Around 200 of the 500 Havelockians dressed as Shakespearean characters. Many of them then took their place at sideshows, or took part in plays at the Village Hall that night.
The Shakespearean pageant at Havelock North received nationwide attention, with some other areas commenting that they could learn a few things about (in today's terms) event management from this small suburb of Hastings.
Michael Fowler (mfhistory@gmail.com) is the heritage officer at the Art Deco Trust, and trainer in accounting for non-accountants www.financialfitness.co.nz
