Editorial: Deco event spotlights Bay's worth

Tremains Art Deco weekend in the Bay was a huge success

What a magnificent Tremains Art Deco Weekend we have just had.

Those in the know believe it was bigger and better than before and who can argue with that. Napier and surrounds came alive and the hard work by all involved paid off handsomely, with the stunning weather the cherry on the top.

But it was more than that. The whole city seemed to buy into Art Deco and it seemed to me that more locals dressed up than last year. The Napier CBD and Marine Parade were buzzing and there was a joyful atmosphere.

I was in Napier on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning and the number of foreign accents I heard was very pleasing because it meant tourists were also attracted by the weekend's festivities,

The best thing about Tremains Art Deco Weekend was the way it showcased everything good about Napier and Hawke's Bay as a whole. For a province sometimes in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, this can only be a good thing.

Too often pettiness and negativity hold us back from achieving our full potential, but Art Deco Weekend shows we can get it right. I attended the opening soiree on Friday night and the thing that struck me as I stood in the marquee on Marine Parade was that it was full of people who had contrasting views on amalgamation.

There were the fiercest opponents and those who are determined to see our five councils become one. It was good to see all these people with such different views on what success for our province looks like, coming together to celebrate all that is good about the Bay.

Amalgamation or no amalgamation, we should all be joining together to ensure showcase events like Tremains Art Deco Weekend, Horse of the Year and the Food and Wine Classic keep going in Hawke's Bay for a long time to come.