It's on with the annual Pukekura light show

HELEN HARVEY - Taranaki Daily News | Saturday, 13 December 2008

The trees will receive special attention when the lights go on at Pukekura Park.


It is that time of year again when the lights go on in Pukekura Park. More than 800 light fittings and 6km of cable has been put up this week and the lights get switched on tomorrow night after Christmas at the Bowl.

This year's TSB Bank Festival of Lights has new features as well as oldies but goodies such as Grimace the Gorilla. New features include a moving digital artwork and an interactive piece that uses motion-sensitive technology to bring people's shadows to life.

And for the first time, the festival has its own lighting designer. Nicola Haines, who last year worked on the black-light area and poet's bridge, has been working with the council on the overall design.

While reluctant to give anything away and ruin the surprise, Ms Haines says the lights around the lake have changed.

There will be layers of colour and people can lift up their eyes and see all of the trees. She has taken special care with the notable old trees and people are definitely going to notice them more.

The lights in the islands are different and there will be a special centrepiece in the lake. She imagined it to be like a fairyland.

"I wanted a filigree of lights, tiny little lights, like fireflies, all the way around the lake. It glitters, then all other colours come up into play."

Wells Lighting has done a remarkable job considering the budget, she says.

There are always constraints.

"With a design, you go as far as you can and then come inwards. Aim for the stars."

Last year, Ms Haines designed a large signature for the poet's bridge. This time round, the fibre optic light has been remodelled and will float in the middle of the lake.

Her inspiration for the design was New Plymouth's dramatic weather.

Ms Haines witnessed first hand the tornado in Oakura last year and was inspired by the power and the rawness of it.

"But if people think it looks like a Christmas tree floating in the middle of the lake, I can live with that."

She has also expanded her oversized luminous garden in the black light area, which has been moved to a different place in the park.

It works better in its new space, she says. The trees lend themselves to the display, which works in unison with the trees. Ms Haines has had numerous walk-throughs at night to test them.

As well as the three lilies, three calla lilies and three groups of three kowhai, she has added large orchids and three flutes. The large concrete sculptures were inspired by the flowers in Pukekura Park and took a week each to make.

A designer and artist, her background is in interior design and architecture in the UK, where she also used to do sculpture.

She came to New Zealand about seven years ago to visit and thought she would love to come back here to live one day. Then her circumstances changed and she moved out two-and-a-half years ago to Oakura.

"New Plymouth completely blew me away. It's a beautiful country. It's not difficult to be inspired by the flora and fauna."

The TSB Bank Festival of Lights costs about $500,000, half of which comes from rates and the other half from sponsors.

This year's festival route is from the children's playground to the main lake through to the TSB Bowl of Brooklands.