Snow Queen competition on the move

The Snow Queen Contestants

This year marked the final time the fabulous and glorious and seventh Snow Queen Wearable Arts Competition will be held in the heart of Ohakune.

Next year the popular competition will be held in the Ruapehu College Hall in Tainui St instead.

Organiser Ruapehu District Councillor Rabbit Nottage said this year had turned into a nightmare when the spacious Ohakune Club closed its doors on them when it went up for sale last month.

"Even though we were very lucky to have been taken in by The Clyde Tavern in Ohakune the space was too small.

"We'd built a huge runaway and stage for the club, then we had to quickly chop it all up and try and fit pieces of it in a zig zag way at the Clyde. But it went ok, everyone enjoyed it even though it was tough because we were very cramped.''

Rabbit said he was thrilled to have been offered the Ruapehu College Hall for next year and hopefully the years after that as well.

"The boys are going to build a big runway and the cooking students under guidance in the school kitchen are going to cater. And then of course there are the wonderful students who enter as well. It's all worked out so well because all the funds go to the college anyway.''

The show centres on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale The Snow Queen, a story about the struggle between good and evil, and entries have once again came in from as far as Wellington.

Six Ruapehu College students had all worked hard to get their creations in on time using
the mountains of fabrics, laces and trims stored in the textiles room
The Snow Queen show was originally thought of six years ago.

Rabbit Nottage said once the idea had caught on it quickly became a "popular reality".
Next year transforming the Ruapehu College hall into a white, fairy wonderland for the competition will be a labour of love for him and everyone involved.

This year's winner (the show was held on Saturday September 2) was a gown made by Owhango designer Karyn Collier and modelled by Emma Collier. The unique frock also won the recycling award.

Nottagesaid the frock was composed of plastic bags, plastic lids, wire and bale wrap from the Colliers' dairy Farm.

Winner of the Snow Pixies was called "wild thing" designed by Wiata Carter and modelled by Lily Rose.

The Snow Princess section was won by Racel Reyes who also modelled her creation.
People's Choice and also third was a creation called "Sylvie" by Alix Pratt and Haylee Callaghan and modelled by Charlie Pratt.

Nottagesaid the night was wonderful but didn't have quite the zing factor of the other years.

"But I know that next year will be amazing - we can't be amazing all the time and next we will be having a wizard section as well.''