Fleetwood Mac In NZ!

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Fans kept in dark over park
Park lights to go live on Saturday night
By MATT RILKOFF - Taranaki Daily News Last updated 10:14 18/12/2009

Fleetwood Mac fans arriving in town today will have to make do with the lights of late night shopping because Pukekura Park won't be turning on early.

For months now the TSB Festival of the Lights has been planned to start tomorrow night, which happened to coincide with the first Fleetwood Mac concert announced at a later date.

With New Plymouth expecting thousands of visitors to arrive in town today, a number of callers to the Taranaki Daily News wondered why the Festival of the Lights is not being turned on tonight.

New Plymouth District Council customer services manager Cathy Thurston said there had been a sneak preview of the lights last week and everyone here for the concert would be able to see it tomorrow night.

"As part of the LTCCP [Long Term Council Community Plan] this year the Festival of Lights had its budget cut by $50,000 so we cut it back in a number of ways including length," she said.

Luckily most central New Plymouth retailers will be open late tonight for the seasonal Christmas shopping rush and there are festive light aplenty along both East and West Devon St.

Added to that will be the pleasant sound of the New Plymouth Brass Band which will be play in the Huatoki Plaza this evening.

"The entertainment will make it all a bit more festive," said Judith Gilmer of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce which has organised the music.

With more than 20,000 visitors expected in the city for the two concerts Ms Gilmer said the influx would put retailers under pressure.

"I look at it like this. This weekend is a busy shopping time every year and this year the extra people in town will be a good opportunity for them to pick up extra business."

Many retailers had extended their hours for the weekend and rostered extra staff to cope with the expected demand.

Even though it won't be turning on the lights, the council will be supplementing tonight's Huatoki Plaza entertainment with the famous Grimace the Gorilla and a few Christmas fairies. Fleetwood Mac plays two concerts at New Plymouth's Bowl of Brooklands this weekend.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-dail...dark-over-park