Mission Estate is planning to mark the Concert’s 20th anniversary, with an extra special event. It was revealed on Twitter that plans for the concert are already under way, and they include ensuring there won’t be such long lines for drinks.
Mission also said on Twitter they have considered a Twitter campaign to see which artist or artists people are wanting.
A sell-out crowd of 25,000 packed the Mission Estate for the 19th annual concert to hear Sting perform with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Mission Concert-goers, were well entertained for over two-and-a-half hours by Sting’s recreation of his music, one critic saying, “It was a celebration of Sting the composer. And it was the best performance this reviewer has witnessed” at the Mission Estate.
A random poll on the Hawkes Bay Today website readers confirms the view that Sting and the NZ Symphony Orchestra were a “hit”, and people on the popular social network “Twitter” were equally as positive, taking the opportunity to make comments like “thanks”, “brilliant”, and “Sting rocks and so did we”.
However, this year was the first time in the 19 year history of the event, that concert-goers were not able bring their own alcohol to the Mission Concert. This situation was forced on the organisers by a recent court decision and it exposed issues surrounding the supply and delivery of alcohol to patrons.
A limit of one bottle of wine or four beers per sale put extra pressure on the 47 drink outlets, and Peter Holley, the CEO of the Mission has apologised to patrons for the delays. He is hopeful that dialogue between the organisers and the licensing authority could help the situation the Mission Concert was in.
Mike Webster from the Napier City Council is not ruling out discussions before the next event, however he is less optimistic of any change. “They [organisers] see it as restrictive, but it is the same at any large venue in New Zealand and they seem to manage.”
Mr Webster said the organisers were advised of the restrictions a year ago.
“They had time to organise things – they need to get to grips with it.”
Event organiser Gary Craft is disappointed with the restrictions saying these regulations were “drawn up by people in offices”. He has however acknowledged the concert needed to improve its service and he is already talking with staff to re-draw the sales outlets.
Police reported a slow night, arresting only one person inside the venue. This compared with 14 last year.
St John’s Ambulance staff were asked to describe their night as “Busy or Bored”, and replied with a smile, “bored, but it got a little bit busy when we really wanted to watch the concert”.
Compared with previous years there was an observable significant drop in the level of litter strewn on the streets around the Mission.
Proceeds from some of the profits of the Mission Concert form part of the annual dividend paid by Marist Holdings Ltd, to help support the social, educational and charitable works of the Society of Mary in New Zealand.
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Acknowledgements
Photo: Hawkes Bay Today