The force behind jazz streetfest

Anna Ferguson passed through Mission Bay on her way home each day and always knew it wouod be a perfect festival venue. Picture / Greg Bowker

Anna Ferguson has lived a colourful life.

At 13, she won a trip to Disneyland in an international writing competition.

She flew to Los Angeles and presented Walt Disney with a Maori waka huia (jewellery) box.

The first-class flight inspired a string of overseas jobs, including working as a model in North America, real estate agent in Hawaii and journalist in Guam.

Ms Ferguson later ran an events company for singles in New Zealand.

In 2000, the grandmother of six (who keeps her age a secret) started Auckland's Mission Bay Jazz and Blues Streetfest.

Organising bands, sponsors and road closures for the annual event has since become a full-time job. "It's my baby," she said.

The first year she expected a crowd of 10,000; 25,000 showed up.

Cellphones had a lot to do with the great response.

"People got on their phones and said, 'You've got to get down here'."

By 2002, 100,000 people were flocking to Tamaki Drive to hear Ms Ferguson's pick of local jazz and blues talent, and sponsors such as Montana were asking to sign up.

The inspiration came from the Toronto Beaches International Jazz Festival in Canada. "I really had fun dancing in the streets," she said.

Mission Bay seemed the perfect venue as she passed it on her way home to St Heliers each afternoon. "I could just see Mission Bay being full of bands."

This year, 25 bands will perform on Tamaki Drive and in Mission Bay Reserve. Some have played before at the free festival, including 20-piece big band Tuxedo Swing Orchestra.

Avondale College graduates Off the Cuff are among the new lineup.

A few purists have complained that not all the bands are strictly jazz or blues. Ms Ferguson admits to injecting a touch of country but said "the people come and the people love it".

Such is her dedication to making the festival a success, she leaves nothing to chance - not even the weather.

Each year, she calls on weather expert Ken Ring - who predicts the weather by the moon - to choose a fine day.

If his predictions for today are off and the weather is dire, the festival will move to tomorrow, but Ms Ferguson has never had to change the date before.

So will she be dancing on the streets?

"I don't get to do that anymore. I have too much to do."

Proceeds from a charity collection will go to New Zealand Special Olympics athletes competing in national and Asia Pacific invitation games.

All that jazz

Mission Bay Jazz and Blues Streetfest.

What: 25 jazz and blues bands live at Mission Bay.
When: Tonight, 7 to midnight.
Transport: Extra Stagecoach buses running from Britomart from 6pm.
Parking: Bastion Pt recommended.