Despite the cancellation of water-based activities at this year’s Island Bay Festival, the community still came together to enjoy the festivities. Thousands of people gathered at the festival, even though the Blessing of the Boats event had to be called off due to a recent sewage spill in the sea.
The festival organizers made the decision to cancel the event in line with public health advice after untreated sewage leaked into the sea following issues at the Moa Point Wastewater Plant. As a result, a rāhui was placed from Ōwhiro Bay to Breaker Bay, and the public was advised to avoid south coast beaches and shellfish from the affected waters.
Despite the challenges, festival-goers like Rosie expressed their disappointment but still made the most of the event. The Tangata Manu Birdman Beach Party was relocated to Shorland Park to accommodate the changes.
While some attendees were saddened by the impact of the sewage spill on the festival, others like Kate highlighted the need for better infrastructure to prevent such incidents in the future.
Despite the restrictions on water activities, many attendees, like Dave and William, came to support the local event and enjoy the atmosphere. Visitors from out of town, such as Lin and Jan, also made the most of their time in Wellington despite the wastewater concerns.
Recent water quality tests have shown that the polluted wastewater has not reached certain areas like Eastbourne, Petone, and the CBD, providing some relief to the situation. Wellington Water continues to monitor the situation and work towards resolving the plant issues.
While water activities were limited, visitors could still interact with marine life at the Marine Education Centre Bait House, where precautions were taken to ensure the well-being of the marine creatures despite the nearby wastewater spill.
The festival may have been different this year, but the community spirit and resilience shone through as attendees adapted to the circumstances and made the most of the event.
