Napier Art Deco festival airshow funding resolved

Planes flying over the Art Deco Festival, Napier, in 2020. Photo / Ian Cooper

The Napier Art Deco Trust is determined its annual festival in less than three weeks will be one of the best ever, despite some fears which were held over part of one of its major public attractions.

The assurances for the February 17-21 Art Deco Festival came from former Napier mayor Barbara Arnott just days after her first meeting as chairwoman, and amid some worries which had been held by the Napier Aero Club it could have to downsize its air show at Hawke's Bay Airport because of a funding issue.

But aero club president Graham Duley said on Sunday the club continued as if it was happening despite what became later-than-usual funding.

Former Napier mayor Barbara Arnott, new chairwoman of the Art Deco Trust ahead of the festival from February 17-21. Photo / Doug Laing

"It was a little bit late, but it's all behind us now so it's all on," he said, as the club confirms plans for the flights and displays at the "Beacons Aerodrome" (Hawke's Bay Airport) and the flights over the city including the five Warbirds Harvards and the Fly DC-3 World War II aircraft, all from Ardmore.

The Harvards will do a first time Hastings flyover above Hastings on Thursday in addition to the usual air shows over Napier and Marine Parade over the following three days, Warbirds general manager Trish Reynolds indicated it could be an extended stay, as the planes prepare for the next big event, the Wings over Wairarapa Festival in Masterton the following weekend.

The RNZAF Falcons team is understood to have been out of practice because of the services personnel commitment to the Government Covid response, but still expects one of its 11 Beechcraft T-6 Texan II aircraft to be involved.

Independent plans to have a second DC-3 owned and based in Napier, and therefore also part of the Art Deco week, have fallen through.

Hawke's Bay interests had hoped to buy a DC-3 from Te Anau lodge owner Mark Oremland and the aircraft was flown to Napier last winter and used by the prospective new owner for a promotional flight to attract interest among community leaders, tourism operators and others.

But Oremland says the sale did not proceed and the aircraft was taken back to the South Island about the start of December and remains on the market.

Meanwhile, festival communications and sponsorship manager Maria Gourlie says funding from festival sponsors has been "stronger than ever", with all sponsors back and support from the Hawke's Bay Regional Council in addition to that of the Napier and Hastings councils who she said have all helped to put the festival into a financially secure position leading into the big week.

She said the festival is "not under any threat around the speculation of a shortage of accommodation."

She said on Friday the Napier i-Site had emailed all the accommodation providers during the week asking if they have availability for the festival weekend and there is quite a lot still available.

Providers had been surprised by the speculation and the trust says that if anyone is looking for accommodation the i-Site is "very happy to help".

The Festival Motor Home Camp site located north of the new Pump Track towards the southern end of Marine Parade will also provide a large area for visitors, and if accommodation begins to come under pressure the Hawke's Bay A and P showgrounds in Hastings will be open for more campers and motor homes.

She said Airbnb management have also said they have enough accommodation at present.

Of particular interest has been "local" interest, amid the absence of large numbers of tourists unable to get into New Zealand because of Covid-19 border controls and international travel restrictions.

"The demand for events in general and having the freedom to socially catch up with friends has become a high listed thing to do," Gourlie said.

Arnott says that with 90 years having passed since the earthquake which gave Napier its unique heritage, the festival is a chance for locals, especially with free events, to recognise the legacy and pay tribute to the services that looked after Hawke's Bay Napier and its people.