The Old Packhouse Market in Kerikeri has come to the rescue, ensuring the Kerikeri Street Party will go ahead on November 22.
The Old Packhouse Market in Kerikeri has come to the rescue, ensuring the Kerikeri Street Party will go ahead on November 22.
The Kerikeri community has come to the party to ensure a much-loved celebration will go ahead after the Kerikeri Half Marathon next week.
With a little over a week to go, the Old Packhouse Market has saved the Kerikeri Street Party, which had been cancelled due to a lackof funding and sponsorship.
Packhouse Market owner Judy Hyland encouraged residents, revellers, visitors, and runners to head to the new venue on Kerikeri Rd on November 22 from 5pm to 9pm.
“It’s going to be a fun party at the Packhouse,” Hyland said.
“The council and police have been really good ... and the community board was open to changing the funding.
“Our Kerikeri and the Kerikeri District Business Association have also offered to help. Everyone’s pulling together.”
Held every November on the evening after the Kerikeri Half Marathon, the popular street party started in 2007 to encourage out-of-town runners to stay an extra night in town.
Warrick and Judy Hyland will host the Kerikeri Half Marathon after-party at the Old Packhouse Market this year.
The event regularly attracted more than 4000 revellers who enjoyed live music, street performers and dozens of stalls offering food, craft beers and wine.
However, this year the event was cancelled after organiser Jackie Sanders said the required funding didn’t come through, and her company Jacman Entertainment had been taking full financial risk for the last five years.
The upcoming closures of the Brynderwyn Hills over two long weekends, one of which coincided with the street party and half marathon, was “the final nail in the coffin”, Sanders said.
Hyland said she was pleased with how locals had chipped in to ensure the event went ahead.
The Bay of Islands Whangaroa Community Board agreed funding already received for the event could be transferred to the Packhouse Market, which would cover the costs of portaloo’s, security officers, and the sound system.
The three bands booked for the main stage - Kohia, the Sound Loungers, and Epic – agreed to discounted fees to enable the party to be affordable, as did DJ Van de Belle.
Paul Halvorson from Halvo Signs provided the signage and billboards for free and Rocksalt Restaurant and Bar were putting on a courtesy van.
There would also be more than a dozen street food vendors offering a diverse range of food.
Hyland has applied for a liquor licence for the event, which will hopefully be approved early next week.
However, the party will go ahead regardless, she said.
Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with finance, roading, and social issues.
