Northlanders flocking to the ice

SPEED SKATER: Ezra Hati, 10, of Whangarei, enjoys ice-skating at the Town Basin.PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM MC230114NADICESKATE1.JPG

While most Northlanders head to the beach in the summer months, a great number have flocked to a slice of ice in Whangarei's Town Basin.

The Ice World ice rink has had around 12,000 people through its gates since it was opened last month, Ice World event manager Robert Achee said.

"It's been going really good and there's been really good feedback," he said.

So good that the company has opted to keep the rink open one more day - it is now closing on January 27, so that it will be open for the Northland/Auckland Anniversary public holiday on Monday.

The Christchurch-based company's next stop is likely to be Wellington in the school holidays in April/May.

Ice World has previously taken the rink to Porirua, Christchurch, Wellington, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Nelson, Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland.

While Mr Achee did not want to comment on exact figures of people through the gate for commercial reasons, he said "it's definitely been well received".

Mr Achee said children generally loved skating at the rink.

"For a lot of them it's the first time doing it. Ninety per cent of kids love it - the other kids are a little scared. But on the whole the kids have had a very positive experience and have had a blast."

Tahurimai Toeke, 11, had been skating for over two hours when she spoke to the Northern Advocate yesterday.

It was her first time there, and she was finding it enjoyable. Her favourite part was "gliding" across the ice.

Her father, Kawiti Toeke, of Paihia, said around 16 extended family members had joined them for a visit to the ice-rink.