Latest news with #MartinMcPherson
Otago Daily Times
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Scooters to feature in grand parade
Mobility scooter users Allan Johnston (left) and Ted Clouston, both 92, with Alexandra Blossom Festival event manager Martin McPherson. The festival is inviting mobility scooter riders to decorate their scooters and ride them in the Grand Parade on September 27. PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSON/ALEXANDRA BLOSSOM FESTIVAL A stealth of mobility scooters are being pimped for their inaugural entry in the Alexandra Blossom Festival grand parade this year. The parade, set for September 27, has opened up float entry conditions to allow smaller entries, which explicitly includes mobility scooters. Festival event manager Martin McPherson said the idea was about community, creativity and bringing the generations together as well as a bit of fun. It was the ultimate intergenerational collaboration — mobility scooters decorated by teenagers, cruising in the grand parade through town, he said. Mobility scooter business owner Ted Clouston, 92, said he would supply a small fleet of scooters for the occasion for anyone who wanted to enter but did not have one. Mr Clouston, who went to his first Blossom Festival in 1957, said he already had a group of scooter enthusiasts ready to go. "Everyone I've spoken to is dead keen." It was more than a decade since Mr Clouston last took part in the grand parade, and he was looking forward to cruising the street again — albeit on a very different vehicle to previous years, he said. Mr McPherson said he was keen to hear from rest-homes and senior clubs, as well as students, wanting to get involved. "Imagine a squad of mobility scooters driving in a flying "V" formation down Centennial Ave, all decked out in blossoms thanks to the youngsters — it will be magnificent.. "Whether you're a senior keen to cruise or a student with a bit of flair, this is your chance to roll through Alexandra in style." Students would be rewarded with free entry to the Contact Party in the Park and festival organisers would shout them lunch, Mr McPherson said. — Allied Media
Otago Daily Times
01-08-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Licensing decision welcomed
A decision to have one licence for all alcohol vendors was welcomed by the Alexandra Blossom Festival committee. In June, the Central Otago licensing committee declined the Alexandra Blossom Festival a special liquor licence, which led to a district licensing committee hearing last month. This week the committee released its decision — approving one licence for all vendors in Pioneer Park. Last year each vendor had to get their own licence, which limited the committee's control. Regardless of who held the licence, each vendor was required to have a duty manager on site. Festival manager Martin McPherson said he was very pleased with the decision. "The festival now has hands-on control of our venue." At the hearing Mr McPherson reiterated the festival was not about alcohol, and had always been designed around the idea of a family day out. People came into the park, got lunch and a beer or wine and sat at the tables to watch the entertainment. Alcohol was secondary to the crowning of the festival prince or princess, the floats and the entertainers. Festival committee chairwoman Sharleen Stirling-Linsday said the festival was proud of its management of alcohol sales. "Last year's changes to the licence limited our ability to manage unwanted behaviour from punters and vendors," she said. Mr McPherson said this year's Saturday in the Park food and beverage sales would be no different from previous years. A wide variety of international food flavours — including Thai, Mexican, Filipino, South African and South American — would be available, along with the traditional whitebait patties, pizza and hot dogs, accompanied by eight vendors offering Central Otago wine and beers, he said.
Otago Daily Times
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Festival declined licence, hearing set
The Alexandra Blossom Festival in 2024. PHOTO: ODT FILES A hearing will be held next month after the Central Otago licensing committee declined a special license for the Alexandra Blossom Festival. Festival event manager Martin McPherson said he could not comment on why the application was refused as he would have to give evidence at the public hearing on July 11. However, he was confident blossom festival goers would not notice any difference to what was on offer regardless of the hearing's outcome. The debate was around who would hold a liquor license, the festival or vendors, he said. "It's just one of those things. It won't affect the blossom festival. We will still have licensed premises onsite." The public hearing will be at the Central Otago District Council chambers, in Alexandra, on July 11 at 10am. In May, the council extended the festival liquor ban to include the Teviot Valley after a presentation by police. The disorder caused by "car enthusiasts" heading to Alexandra was the reason for the extension. It was not related to behaviour at the the blossom festival site in the town.
Otago Daily Times
02-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Blossom Festival liquor licence declined
The Central Otago licensing committee has declined the Alexandra Blossom Festival a special liquor license and set down a hearing for July 11. Festival event manager Martin McPherson said the move is to help the licensing committee decide who should hold the liquor license — the festival trust committee or the vendors— not to ban alcohol at the festival. Mr McPherson could not comment on why the application was refused as he would have to give evidence at the public hearing. He was confident festival-goers would notice no difference regardless of the outcome. "It's just one of those things. It won't affect the blossom festival. We will still have licenced premises on-site." The public hearing will be at the Central Otago District Council chambers, in Alexandra, at 10am. In May, the council extended the festival liquor ban to include the Teviot Valley. The disorder caused by "car enthusiasts" heading to Alexandra was the reason for the extension, not behaviour at the festival site.
Otago Daily Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Licence declined
The Central Otago licensing committee has declined the Alexandra Blossom Festival a special liquor license and set down a hearing for July 11. Festival event manager Martin McPherson said the move is to help the licensing committee decide who should hold the liquor license — the festival trust committee or the vendors— not to ban alcohol at the festival. Mr McPherson could not comment on why the application was refused as he would have to give evidence at the public hearing. He was confident festival-goers would notice no difference regardless of the outcome. "It's just one of those things. It won't affect the blossom festival. We will still have licenced premises on-site." The public hearing will be at the Central Otago District Council chambers, in Alexandra, at 10am. In May, the council extended the festival liquor ban to include the Teviot Valley. The disorder caused by "car enthusiasts" heading to Alexandra was the reason for the extension, not behaviour at the festival site.
