Editorial: Art Deco fun perfect for winter

Roger Moroney.

Three or four decades back, there was a sort of hibernation approach to the months of winter because it was simply not suitable to set out for some distant seaside motel or cabin site.

It was an attitude pretty well reflected by the tourism industry back in those times.

No one took the family or themselves away in winter because there was really nothing to do.

Not any more.

Only five or six years ago the mid-winter Art Deco weekend almost slipped from sight, but the determination of people like John "Bertie" Cocking to keep it alive saw it through - and this year's event has seen something like 1100 ticket sales to events and "sold out" signs galore.

About 40 per cent of attendees will be from outside the region, and there are also arrivals from as far as the UK and Canada, as well as the good numbers of Aussies.

It is an event which sparks a good reason to take a mid-winter holiday because, as Associate Minister of Tourism Paula Bennett said, it has an appealing "point of difference".

She added we had a real plus on our side right now as things were getting a bit crazy in some parts of the world.

New Zealand, and places like Hawke's Bay, were safe, sound and satisfying recreational targets to head for.

Events like the Hawke's Bay Toyota Winter Deco Weekend are invaluable.

And we have seen the expansion of stunning winery estates with their dining and warm cellar doors - weather doesn't matter.

I suspect we will see more winter visitors to the Bay, given our tourism figures are on the rise.

It's always a warm feeling during a cold month when you see things are looking up.