City's biggest ice block melts away

Steve Dunsden, Ice World employee, dismantles the temporary ice rink that was in a Town Basin carpark from December 20. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Four-hundred and eighty square metres of ice has become over 25,000 litres of water, slowly trickling in the drains of a Town Basin carpark.

The Ice World temporary ice-rink was being dismantled yesterday after a wait of several days for the ice to melt, said Ice World event manager Robert Achee.

"It's water from the mains, which goes back into the drains," he said.

He expected the site to be cleared by the end of today. The rink, a 30m by 16m block of ice under a marquee in the carpark between Riverside Dr and Dent St carpark, was in operation from December 20 last year until Monday.

Mr Achee estimates over 14,000 people visited the rink during that time. "It was definitely a good success for Whangarei, and for us. It was well-used and very popular."

Ice World had also taken the rink to Porirua, Christchurch, Wellington, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Nelson, Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland, and Mr Achee said attendance in Whangarei was "on par".

"Probably better, considering the [comparative] population of Whangarei," he said. "We are definitely looking at coming back."

The Christchurch-based company's next stop was likely to be Wellington during the school holidays in April/May.

When asked if Whangarei could sustain a permanent ice rink, Mr Achee said it would be hard to say, because Ice World had only temporary rinks.

Venues And Events Whangarei marketing manager Rachael O'Gorman said the rink went "really well".

"People were saying, 'this is something I've never been able to do' - right in Whangarei. People came along and they supported it, which is really positive for the district."

Ms O'Gorman said she'd like to see Ice World return: "If the public were keen to see it back, we'd definitely support it."