Mardi gras planned to cash in on eruption media exposure

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 645, 16 July 1996, Page 1

Mardi gras planned to cash in on eruption media exposure

The B lack Ice Mardi Gras i s the name of the game for the day for Saturday 27 July in Ohakune. Local ski industry people and retailers have got together to organise the day, aiming to attract people to the town in spite of the eruption and to show that Ohakune as a tourist town is not finished and has a lot to offer besides skiing. The Christchurch Wizard ha$ accepted an invitation to come to cast his cheering-up spells, a number of celebrities are expected to attend, there will be live bands, street entertainment, spot prizes including accommodation in Ohakune and gifts from the Ohakune retailers, and a grand

prize of a Canadian ski holiday. A number of national companies have pledged support for the event, although specific information is yet to be confirmed. There is also likely to be a ceremonial sacrifice of a carrot effigy to the volcano, aimed at attracting attention of the media, if not the gods. "We want to show that as a town we are prepared to stand up for ourselves during this eruption," said one of the group, Murray Swan. "It's to keep our spirits up and to capture the most publicity possible from the exposure produced by the eruption."