Whangarei was treated to an extraordinary day on Saturday when the first artisans
market was held at the Town Basin. The market venue was the pedestrian bridge covered with a unique upside down canopy.
But the entire Town Basin was alive, as it should be, with people.
It was a
glorious day, and I missed it, through no fault of anyone's really. But I couldn't
avoid bumping into people who kept telling me how awesome it was.
I have rarely heard people speak in such glowing terms about a local event.
The Northern Advocate's John Stone has seen a market or two and reckons it was brilliant.
It had the whole town buzzing. It seems eons ago that we were so precious about the Town Basin
that candles were banned from carols by candlelight as the council was worried about getting wax on
the paving stones. The new hub is also great _ a facility that we have been waiting for a long time in this town.
If you haven't already, take a good look at how the council has invested in the Basin revamp, it's
reshaping Whangarei and how people think about their town, something economic development
boss Jude Thompson, speaking at the Hub opening on Friday, touched on.
On Sunday, I ran through the basin briefly, as part of the 9.4km run that was an event in the
Carters Whangarei Run/Walk Festival. If I was the principal sponsor, I would be asking some
questions about this event. Why does it finish in a muddy carpark adjacent to the Whangarei
Rock and Roll Clubrooms?
To call this event a festival is a misnomer. It is part of Sport Northland's Run/Walk series, but
out of the many excellent events that Sport Northland is involved with, this one is slightly
bewildering.
Despite the best efforts of the radio announcer welcoming runners home, there is little
atmosphere.
Why is that important? Because many people taking part aren't
serious athletes, they are competing for fun, to keep fit, or as a social event.
Is there a reason why this event does not base itself at the Town Basin somewhere? I've heard
numbers were down this year. I'm not surprised, as many people who did it last year would not have
returned.
And is traffic management such an issue that some of the races had to start deep in no man's land in
Whangarei's industrial area? Participants are looking for a picturesque run, and a finish area that is worth hanging around after the race ends. We have one, two km from the current finish line.
Surely it can be moved?