23 May 2011

Hats off to our Christchurch Clients!

Thankfully since the devastating earthquake in February, all of our Christchurch clients have found their feet. How on earth we would cope in their shoes we will hopefully never have to find out - our hats are off to their perseverance and resourcefulness.

Eastgate Shopping Centre has suffered extensive damage, however the team were back onsite immediately and are working out of office containers in the carpark. Over 30 stores have had to be demolished, however everyone is safe, there were only relatively minor injuries considering the damage. Much of the centre will reopen in May and the remaining stores will be open in stages over the next six months.

We quickly wrote some editorial which Strategy Design & Advertising (from home, the Strategy building sadly has been demolished) worked their design magic on - see the full article here.

True Grit hair spa are back up and trading on Tuam Street in the CBD, Jacqui and her team are invincible. Thank goodness they had left their Manchester Street location and are now in their beloved 'concrete bunker', Manchester Street was sadly completely flattened by the February quake.

Colombus & Ware have bounced back and will be reopening in Merivale Mall. After 65 years in their iconic Colombo Street location it's a massive change for them, but a really exciting one. We think they'll go gangbusters at Merivale and look forward to rolling out their opening campaign over coming weeks!

Superior Motorcycles has reopened with some fantastic improvements instore. Structurally they were very lucky with no major damage to the building, however much of the stock and fitout was damaged.

Lastly, what's really evident with all of our clients is how much their clients are rallying around them! Many are as busy if not busier than ever and there's a real sense of loyalty and team spirit in Christchurch. If you haven't been back up there yet we recommend it - apart from the central city it's business as usual and every visitor goes towards helping the recovery.

2011 Dunedin Midwinter Carnival - Media Release



Saturday 25 June, 5.30pm, The Octagon, Dunedin
On June 25th 2011, the lights will be turned off in the heart of Dunedin city and ‘Night Creatures’ will take over. The iconic Dunedin Midwinter Carnival returns in 2011 with ‘Night Creatures’, New Zealand’s very own insect fairytale.

The Octagon’s Victorian streetscape and St Paul’s Cathedral will be brought to life, with braziers and giant lanterns, stilt walkers, musicians and dancers, who will circumnavigate the Octagon, joined by hundreds of smaller hand-made lanterns carried by local children. The lanterns represent returning light, creativity, and community.

Juliet Novena Sorrel, the carnival’s Artistic Director described the moment when the lanterns are lit just before the parade starts as “truly magical”. The magic must be powerful as an estimated 10,000 people attended the Midwinter Carnival in 2010.

The Midwinter Carnival art team works hard to make each event unique with a new theme, different costuming, lanterns and performance every year. Sorrel explained that “Dunedin has some very talented people and it is great to be able to bring them together to celebrate winter, the longest night and the rise of Matariki.” This year promises to be just as magical. Expect giant lanterns created by Dunedin artist Katrina Thomson which will represent features in the night sky, giant puriri moths the moon, and wetas.

Spectacular costumes are another essential element of the Midwinter Carnival. Well  known Dunedin fashion designer Fieke Neuman is working on the Carnival art team to create extraordinary stilt costumes with an insect theme. The costumes will be performed in by a group of young women stiltwalkers trained by Novena Sorrel, who was herself a professional stiltwalker. The stilt characters have names such as ‘Girly Long Legs’, ‘Mosquitoes’ and ‘Beetle Girls’.

Last year saw 70 costumed performers and this year’s procession promises additional “feature characters” who will showcase their individual talents. International stiltwalker and aerialist Rhys Latton has joined the Midwinter Carnival team this year and will perform as a giant spider on four legged stilts. Sorrel described Fieke Newman’s creations as “So unique that audiences are in for a real treat, while actors like Rhys ‘become’ the creatures they portray”.

The first midwinter celebration was held in 1997 and over the last decade the Midwinter Carnival has left indelible memories in the minds of Dunedin’s younger generation. Hundreds of local families will be part of this year’s parade with their own hand-made lanterns. Lantern making workshops for all ages will take place on 4-5th June, 11-12th June, and 18-19th June, in South Dunedin, North East Vallery, and the central city. The cost is $5 per lantern and participants must register online at http://www.midwintercarnival.co.nz/.

The Midwinter Carnival event is suitable for all ages with organisers requesting a donation or gift of koha from attendees. 

For more information contact:

Sarah Girvan                                                    Juliet Novena Sorrel
Publicist                                                              Artistic Director
Immersion Marketing                                          Dunedin Midwinter Carnival
03 479 2036                                                       03 477 3350
021 552 240                                                       027 565 7713
sarah@immersionmarketing.co.nz                        info@midwintercarnival.co.nz        
http://www.immersionmarketing.co.nz/                          http://www.midwintercarnival.co.nz/

Eastgate Bounces Back - Star Communities advertorial


Concept, copy writing and coordination - Immersion Marketing
Graphic Design - Strategy Design & Advertising