The opening of The Maui Dynasty exhibition was timed to co-incide with The Lantern Spectacular.
The Lantern Spectacular is an annual event organised by the Nelson City Council Summer in Nelson
Festival where over 3,000 people climb to the Centre of New Zealand.
This year, The Suter invited families to attend a lantern making workshop and cultural
performances prior to the Lantern Spectacular. Children (and adults!) could also have their face
painted by the fabulous Marilyn. Performances by the Nelson Samoan Cultural Church and Te
Whakakura entertained the crowd of several hundred who managed to make 300 lanterns!
At 7.30 pm, a stilt walker and musicians arrived to lead the crowd at The Suter to Botanic
Reserve where the procession to the Centre of New Zealand began. The crowd were lead through
Queens Park and past the recently opened Chinese garden.
Many thanks to Creative Communities, Nelson City, for supporting this event.