Taupo Winter Festival fun is coming

There will be a new giant mural to colour in at this year's Malcolm Flowers Insurances Taupo Winter Festival.

With only two weeks until the Malcolm Flowers Insurances Taupo Winter Festival, organisers say everything is on track for the four-day event.

The festival runs during the school holidays from Thursday, July 13 to Sunday, July 16.

Entries for the various exhibitions and competitions organised had been positive, said event organiser Kylie Hawker-Green.

Local schools were invited to submit a short film about the Tuwharetoa legend Battle of the Mountains and the top prize is a camera drone valued at $2500 capable of taking professional aerial film and photography.

"We've had more than 15 entries, which is wonderful, and these will be judged this week and then the winners will be announced at the festival. Joel Corbett from Corbie Films has helped us put this together, and we're really excited to be showing a selection of locally made films at the festival," Mrs Hawker-Green said.

All the films, which are between just five and eight minutes long, will be screened during the festival weekend so members of the public can make up their own mind as to their favourite film.

Screening times are 11am and 2pm on Friday, July 14 and Saturday, July 15; and 11am on Sunday, July 16 at the Great Lake Centre theatre.

Another community project taking place during the Winter Festival is Collect 10. Locals with interesting collectibles were asked to share 10 items from their collections with the public, said Mrs Hawker-Green.

"We've had a great response, with a really interesting and diverse range of items offered to exhibit. We don't want to give too much away, but there's everything from teapots to spectacles!"

Ten items from 10 different collections will be on display at the Great Lake Centre foyer between 10am and 4pm daily throughout the weekend.

Film buffs, historians and anyone curious to know more about how Taupo has evolved over the years can do so through Rewind, Taupo in Film, which is back due to due to popular demand, said Mrs Hawker-Green.

It's a compilation of historical films, from 1929 holiday footage through to a 1960s documentary plus a 1995 documentary about the building of the Tongariro power scheme and more.

The films all come from Nga Taonga Sound & Vision's collection, formerly National Archives, and screenings are at 12.30pm and 3.30pm on the Friday and Saturday and 12.30pm on Sunday, July 16. Entry is free though a koha is appreciated.

Everyone will love getting involved with the giant, 20ft colouring-in mural that will be displayed outside on the Taupo Cenotaph from 10am to 4pm each day. Last year's mural was created by award-winning children's author and illustrator Donovan Bixley.

"This year Graffiato curator and acclaimed artist Ross Liew, aka TrustMe, is creating a fresh mural for the community to colour in over the weekend," said Mrs Hawker-Green.

"Ross has a great connection with Taupo having led Graffiato since its inception, and he has enjoyed the challenge of creating something quite different to his usual work and style."

More art fun can be had at the Glo T-shirt Creation Station run by Taupo Youth Arts Trust running Friday, July 14. It's aimed at children aged 5 to 13 and they can either bring along their own white T-shirt or buy one for $2 (while stocks last), then create a colour glow-in-dark artwork on it.

Participants must book online through the Winter Festival website for their preferred session time of 10am, 11am or 12pm and the children are encouraged to wear their creation and attend that evening's Firelight event.

"It's our community opening event for the festival, where we officially switch on the Unison light trail!" said Mrs Hawker-Green.

"We will have live music, entertainment and giveaways. Wear your t-shirt from the glo-station and you might win a prize, and the train will be running in the dark, always a hit with kids of all ages. Taupo Museum will also be open late."

All of the events are free and details, times and booking requirements (if any) for events can be viewed at www.taupowinterfestival.co.nz.