Tuesday 2 August 2005
Get Your Skates On – Taranaki’s Ice Rink Is Open
New Plymouth’s first ever ice rink is open! Today, 600 schoolchildren from six Taranaki schools will take to the ice and
a special public celebration is being held tonight.
Taranaki Festival of the Arts director Roger King says he is “absolutely thrilled” that the ice rink is up and running.
“We have worked around the clock for the past week to get the rink ready to open and we’re delighted the people of
Taranaki will now have the opportunity to get out on the ice.”
The rink is being officially opened tonight at 5.30pm with a party featuring live music, spot prizes and a fiery theme.
To celebrate the opening tonight’s public skating sessions are free. Public skating sessions begin with a family session
from 4.15-5.30pm, followed by general sessions at 5.45-7.15pm, 7.30-9.00pm and 9.15-11.00pm.
The opening of the ice rink had been delayed six days due to ongoing technical problems with one of the four compressors
needed to freeze the ice.
Thousands of Taranaki schoolchildren are booked for free ice skating sessions thanks to funding from the TSB Community
Trust. The festival team is working closely with schools to rebook skating sessions.
“We are looking at running the ice rink past the festival closure date for school groups to make sure that no-one misses
out.”
Mr King says the ice rink will bring a lively atmosphere to the street outside the TSB Showplace where the festival
events are being held.
“We’ve had a wonderful week of festival events so far and the ice rink is the icing on the cake.
“We’d like to thank the people of Taranaki for all their support.”
ENDS