Visitors add Easter buzz

Wairarapa was buzzing with visitors during Easter weekend, thanks to major events and the good weather.

Big events included the North Island Car Rally, which was hosted by the Wairarapa Vintage Car Club, the New Rags Market, Comedy in the Vines, the final Wharekauhau Wine & Food Society Market and the Tore Tora Tora Music Festival.

Destination Wairarapa marketing manager Barb Hyde said that with such a range of events being held they had expected an influx of visitors.

"The Wairarapa is always a popular destination for visitors at Easter time due to our settled weather and variety of things to do.

"This settled run of weather is continuing to attract people to the region and Destination Wairarapa is continuing to make sure domestic visitors are aware of the eclectic range of activities that are available in the region," she said.

The organisation had received feedback about Medici Cafe, Martinborough, that it was busier there than last Easter and anecdotal evidence from people that the town was buzzing.

Martinborough i-SITE team leader Pixie Tipoki said they had received high demand from visitors at the weekend.

Destination Wairarapa also expects the region to be busy after Anzac Day, which coincides with the first week of the school holidays.

On April 27, the Vintage Aviator is holding its Anzac WWI Airshow at Hood Aerodrome.

Pukaha Mt Bruce and Aratoi will also have school holiday programmes running.