Events put spotlight on region

Wairarapa is welcoming an influx of visitors for a weekend packed with events, and a healthy spin-off for the local economy.

The bumper weekend includes the Super rugby pre-season game between the Hurricanes and the Chiefs in Mangatainoka, the Castlepoint lighthouse centenary, the Masterton A&P; Show, and the The More FM Summer Vineyard Tour at Te Kairanga Vineyard in Martinborough.

Nick Rogers, commercial manager at Tui Brewery and the man behind the Mangatainoka game, said the boost for the economy could be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"It's about putting Mangatainoka on the map," he said.

"This year we've sold our allocated 8000 tickets and we're expecting a lot more people to come in to the region from Wellington. If every person spends $20 outside the gate on petrol and on something to eat then that brings in another $160,000 on top of what's spent at the game."

Mr Rogers said he understood local hotels and motels were fully booked and the bars were ready for a brisk trade.

Eketahuna's Commercial Hotel proprietor Lynn Gillot said they were expecting hundreds of rugby fans, and had hired two or three additional staff to cope with demand.

This morning a cavalcade of 50 horse riders will travel from Cape Palliser lighthouse to officially start the Castlepoint lighthouse centennial celebrations which will include a weekend of events, music and activities for the family.

Organiser John Keen said that he believed the Castlepoint lighthouse was an "iconic" New Zealand landmark which was a major attraction for a large number of visitors to Wairarapa. He was expecting thousands to attend the free events and available accommodation was limited.

Angie Burke, of the Brown Trout Motel and the Post Office Hotel in Pahiatua, said their 21 rooms were fully booked. "The whole town is probably full," she said.

The Masterton A&P; Show is expected to attract more than 7000 people over three days. Organiser Ally O'Neill said he believed the benefit to the region was "quite huge".

"If everyone spends $50 the spin-off would benefit everyone considerably."

The Summer Vineyard Tour at Te Kairanga Vineyard will also attract thousands of music fans to Wairarapa this weekend. Popular Kiwi act Opshop headline the Martinborough event, alongside award-winning Australian artist Missy Higgins.