15,000 drawn to new format Carnival
An estimated 15,000 people were drawn to the new format Upper Hutt Summer Carnival on Friday evening and Saturday says
organiser Murray Lord.The Carnival Nightshow on Friday was a NZ Idol type show with TV presenter Dominic Bowden and Idol
runner up Michael Murphy performing live .Ben Hazlewood from Papakowhai singing one of his own songs beat 14 other
singers to become Carnival Idol and earn himself an audition with this year's Idol judges.
The event had been upgaded following a grant from the Pelorus Trust Kiwiana is still alive adds Murray Lord explaining
that Saturday's entertainment featured longlasting woodchopping , leisure marching , vintage machinery and pet shows but
had seen excavator digging competitions , helicopter rides and the Central Region Pipe Bands competition added to the
show.
Australasian champions Manawatu Scottish won the Grade One title again.Upper Hutt hopes to attract the National
Tournament in 2008 .
The large community run event worked well around the new top class cricket wicket currently being prepared.