The smooth running reincarnation of the Doubtless Bay Fishing Contest as hosted by the Mangonui Fire Brigade for the first time over the weekend gave organisers plenty of reassurance for the future.
Convenor Alan Moros said the lasting impression from all involved in successfully pulling off the massive undertaking was one of relief.
"We are all very excited. It was a great start to have it go so well," said Moros of the two-day event, which concluded on Sunday. Thus any earlier fears that the inexperience of the organising committee would be revealed - despite every precaution being put in place - eventually proved unfounded.
"The feedback was good, the event was great, people were blown away with the prizes and the smoothness of it," Moros continue,d before candidly addressing perhaps the most commonly-held grumble: "Yes, the auction still takes too long, but it's either keep it in this format or increase ticket prices and we don't want to do that."
He also noted, "An hour after, the whole training ground was clean, no tents, no rubbish. Like a good fire callout, when you do the job and get back and wait for the next one."