Editorial: Events make the city hum

Walton St Cafe staff/owners open on Whangarei Parade Day. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Whangarei will be pumping this weekend. The town's 50th Anniversary parade has led to smart businesses altering their trading hours to take advantage of the extra people expected to be in town. There could be more than 70 floats in the parade.

Let's assume we're going to get thousands rather than hundreds watching. And it won't take much planning for people to factor in the international rugby league test match being played at Toll Stadium.

For Adam Blair, it will be a unique experience - a test in his home town. Well, nearly his home town - he's from the Hokianga but boarded in Whangarei while he was at school.

The match will be worth attending for the hakas alone.

It's the first big match since the two World Cup matches played here in 2011 when the town Painted It Red.

Northlanders and visiting rugby fans turned out in droves to take part in a celebratory event that swept the country.

Events that followed the World Cup matches were well patronised - our local version of Christmas in the Park saw thousands turn up. Locals clearly had an appetite for an event, something different to do.

This weekend, there's plenty to do. If you have ever complained that there is nothing to do, bite your tongue, get off your chuff and even if you don't go to the league, spend some time in Whangarei among some happy people.

And perhaps contemplate how we can achieve such an atmosphere on a more regular basis. Events are great as one-offs, but to continue to expand as an events town, we need more accommodation.

And we also need a decent conference facility. Whangarei remains a work in progress, but this weekend, why not come into the city for a glimpse into the future - hopefully, the not too distant future.