Deco sponsor crew help kick it off

IN THE SPIRIT: Tremains real estate agents dressed up for art deco at the Gatsby room in Napier. Photo Paul Taylor

For Simon Tremain the next three days are going to be a tad breathless - but he wouldn't have it any other way.

As managing director of Tremains Real Estate, the principal sponsor of the aptly titled Tremains Art Deco Festival, he said the enthusiasm for the event had grown like the event itself.

"This is our fourth year working in with the Art Deco Trust and we're locked in for next year which will be pretty special," Mr Tremain said as he adjusted his striped blazer and boater hat for another occasion to call on.

Next year's festival will be the 30th.

"It is such a great event to be involved with and it is all good positive, fun stuff which rubs off on everyone."

As they did last year, his colleagues gathered at the Art Deco Masonic's Gatsby Room for lunch yesterday and as Mr Tremain said "dressed up to the nines accordingly".

He added that he was hoping to catch up with them toward the end of the lunch as he had the launch of the Sileni Estate's special Deco Sparkling to attend first.

"There's a bit going on," he said with a laugh.

That evening he had a Deco-inspired dinner gathering aboard the HMNZS Wellington which arrived yesterday morning with the HMNZS Taupo - the event staged as a fundraiser to assist schools in earthquake-damaged Kaikoura.

HMNZS Wellington had been part of the initial emergency response to the 'quake.

Mr Tremain reeled off a list of other events he was heading for over the weekend and said the dampness was not an issue.

"It is a bit wet out there unfortunately but hey, it's not an issue - you just get on with things and put your head down, smile and just drive on through it," he said.

While drizzling rain fell yesterday it did not deter the number of smartly dressed people who began hitting the central city streets.

The wide shop awnings and verandas were perfect cover, and while there was no need for a sun umbrella there were dashing looking rain brollies spotted.

Today's forecast is for steady rain with showers on Saturday morning possibly turning heavier in the afternoon.

But Sunday was looking more promising according to the Metservice long-range forecast.
Sunshine with some cloud and a high of 25C.

Which would work in nicely with the popular Gatsby Picnic and the Soap Box Derby, the latter featuring a one off race between the three main sponsors, Tremains, Gemco and Brebner Print.

Each, along with the Art Deco Trust, have put $500 into the winning kitty, and the three sponsors had all picked a cause to donate the resulting $2000 to should they win.

Tremains have nominated the U-Turn Trust, Gemco the Project Prima Volta and Brebner Print the Hawke's Bay Rescue Helicopter.

"I'm sure we can pick this up," Mr Tremain said.

"It was a photo finish last year but we're pretty confident."