Skate rink returning to city

The Harcourts Skate Rink in action.

The Harcourts Outdoor Ice Rink is set to make a spectacular return to Rotorua's Village Green for the third annual Fire & Ice Mid-Winter Festival, commencing late June.

Auckland-based Paradice Ice Skating is bringing their 28m x 17m ice rink to the city for the first time, from Thursday 26 June until Sunday 28 July.

Councillor Karen Hunt, Rotorua District Council's portfolio lead for the Inner City Revitalisation Strategy says the outdoor ice rink has in just two years become an established and popular feature of the mid-winter events calendar.

"It supports the Rotorua 2030 vision by adding another dimension to our inner city offering, and providing unique entertainment that attracts locals and visitors to the area.

"The outdoor ice rink will be a great opportunity for families to have a day or night out on the ice together, and the chance to combine this experience with a visit to one of the many cafes and restaurants on Eat Streat and elsewhere throughout the city".

Paradice Ice Skating general manager, Chris Blong, says they are utilising the world's leading temporary ice rink technology to achieve a consistent quality ice surface, with 70 per cent of the rink area enclosed for protection from the elements.

"We're excited about bringing our advanced ice system that grooms the ice regularly to provide a quality experience. The noticeable difference this makes to the ice is best described as the difference between driving on a gravel road versus a sealed road.

"We're also bringing our 'skate safe' programme including safety tips, hand-outs, video and skating rules, to help create a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone. And three-sided skate frames will be available to help learner skaters with correct posture and balance," said Mr Blong.

Mr Blong said his team was also working on a programme of ice rink events to complement the city's Fire & Ice Festival, including ice sports demonstrations, regular games, DJs and entertainers on themed and special event nights.

The district council's major events coordinator, Jason Cameron, says the Fire and Ice Mid-Winter Festival and Harcourts Outdoor Ice Rink will create a range of dynamic, quality events to suit every age group, from late June through to late July.

"Past experience shows it will attract people to Rotorua during the school holiday period in particular, while also encouraging our local community to come into the inner city area in what is otherwise the quieter winter time.

"We're expecting around 15,000 people to use the ice rink during the festival," said Mr Cameron.

The Harcourts Outdoor Ice Rink will be open from 12pm to 10pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 10pm weekends and during the school holiday period.

Entry will be $20 for adults and students, $15 for children 12 years and under, and $60 for a family pass (two adults and two children). Skate hire is included in the entry fee.