Blenheim performer dances at Edinburgh Tattoo in Wellington

After 13 years of dancing in front of a variety of crowds, a young Blenheim woman has performed in an event that has no match. Danielle Pope, 19, was the Blenheim’s only dancer to be chosen to perform at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Wellington over the weekend, and she says she was emotional by the opportunity. She says it is amazing to dance with the Scottish dancers but it can also be challenging.

 

She added their way of dancing is slightly different than ours and it is difficult to match them at times but it is incredible that such a world popular event has visited New Zealand. She shared the feeling saying the overall experience was incredible and in terms of glory and size it was like the Tattoo in Edinburgh which surprised me. The world famous event has visited overseas only three times since its starting more than 60 years ago and the people attended the performances from all over the country and even the world.

Danielle had chance once before of performing in the Edinburgh Tattoo and then she traveled to Scotland. She explained the culture and experience was amazing because the size of the castle and the number of attending people was quite incredible. Danielle who is a pharmaceutical student at Otago University, says dancing removes the stress after a long day of study and classes and I would be lost without it because it is one of my craze.      

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Edinburgh Tattoo set to boost Wellington economy with $16m

Edinburgh Military Tattoo is expected to inject $16 million as economic benefits into the Wellington region. Great influx of visitors have been attracted by the event to the capital,with accommodation already booked out that has forced people to stay as far away as Levin and Martinborough. Chief executive of Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency, Chris Whelan said the whole region would derive economic benefits adding the four days alone are going to be worth an estimated $16m to the Wellington economy this summer.

He said more than 80,000 spectators have purchased coupons for four performances and accommodation demand has risen across the region. Masterton Copthorne Hotel & Resort manager Michelle Kirkpatrick said the Tattoo has also created great opportunity for the Wairarapa region.Whelan said this is a very successful event for the property and extra six touring groups have chosen to stay at the hotel over the four days and Tattoo weekend was an amazing event where Wellington offered further property investment because there is work already in progress to house the ever growing demand with a Sofitel under development, proposed Rydges Hotel at Wellington Airport and a four star plus Sebel property due to come on board in Lower Hutt in early 2017.

The New Zealand Festival is presenting the Tattoo and Wellington City Council is funding it. This is the second time the Tattoo is staged at Westpac Stadium following a profitable event in 2000 and just the fourth time it is being held overseas in its 65-year history. Tattoo chief executive and producer, Brigadier David Allfrey said it is our belief New Zealand economy would derive $4m from each performance.

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Edinburgh Tattoo popularity causes huge room dearth in Wellington

The suburbs outside the city will enjoy the benefits of this month’s Edinburgh Tattoo as a dire room shortage has hit Wellington, according to a local hospitality boss. People have heavily booked hotel rooms in the capital for the Weekend of February 20-21 as the event happens at the same date as other big events such as the Wine, Food and Craft Beer Festival, Round the Bays and the arrival of Victoria University first-year students. Hospitality Association Wellington president Jeremy Smith said huge demand for rooms reminds only to "the good old days when sevens was fully booked".

Smith said hotel owners would not be the only beneficiaries of the big weekend because I expect a fair number of people coming from Australia for the Tattoo. He expected the people unable to find hotel rooms in the city will try their luck with camper vans, or with motels and hotels outside the city. Some friends or relatives of Kiwis travelling to the tattoo in Wellington and its suburbs will host their guests. But situation is expected to improve with management of additional rooms available towards the start of the event.

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Military Tattoo artists to perform in Australia and New Zealand

A Military Tattoo performer’s group is departing for Australia and New Zealand for the promotion of the Edinburgh extravaganza. A farewell will be given by Tourism minister Fergus Ewing from the Tattoo's Scottish contingent to musicians as they train on Friday morning. More than 250,000 spectators have paid to enjoy performances in Australia and New Zealand. Tourism minister Fergus Ewing said an event like Edinburgh's Military Tattoo gets recognition for Scotland in the world and I am sure its presence in Australia and New Zealand will act as a superb advert for our country.

He added ancestral Scots will be attracted by the performance of this national institution and will serve to support the strengthening of links between our nations because it highlights our rich array of culture and our heritage of contemporary Scotland which we want to share with the world. Tattoo's producer, Brigadier David Allfrey said we were planning since three years and we have received support from many people of Scotland and across all the collaborating countries. It is only fourth time in the Tattoo’s history it will be staged outside from its home at Edinburgh Castle.

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