Day to paint the town green (+video)

Rotorua is going green for St Patrick's Day and local bars are commemorating with Irish-themed celebrations and "lots of Guinness".

Today will be the last St Patrick's Day in the current Hennessy's Irish Bar, before it's demolished and rebuilt - ready for reopening later this year. Its last trading day is Easter Sunday.

Hennessy's operations manager Sue Burnett said she was both happy and sad about it.
"We have to be positive about a new beginning, but it's about celebrating what has been ... we will be selling lots of Guinness and lots of food and like any other St Patrick's Day it's a large occasion in Rotorua," she said.

"Last year was absolutely full out the front door. We have people come in for breakfast and office groups in at lunch. It's so positive and it's nice to have something positive."

She said the pub's record for most Guinness sold on a St Patrick's Day was in 2004 when it went through 25 kegs.

With 78 kegs of Guinness out back, they were aiming for a new record today, she said.

She said the last pint of Guinness would be sold at midnight Easter Sunday and people were already booking in for the "last supper", before the pub reopened in November.

Lava Bar Rotorua Vanessa Martin said staff would be dressed in theme and serving green beer.

"We open from 5.30pm, we have a DJ coming in and are hoping it's going to be a good night."

She said the best dressed leprechaun would get a prize.

Richard Hazeldine, owner of Our Backyard Pub and the chairman of the Rotorua Central Liquor Accord, said that while his pub wasn't doing anything special this year they wished everyone a happy St Patrick's Day.

"It's the Hennessy's last St Patrick's Day and we wish them a great last St Paddy's Day," Mr Hazeldine said.

Pig & Whistle manager Rosie Harding said they weren't doing anything special but there would be the usual Guinness on tap and live music.

St Patrick's Day is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17 every year, it is the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general.