On the floor: Turning it off

Last year's Earth Hour in the Octagon. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Last year's Earth Hour in the Octagon. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Tonight across the world many lights will go out for Earth Hour, an event organisers hope will remind people to conserve energy and care for the planet.

The hour of energy awareness has been celebrated in Dunedin for a couple of years, and this year many of the city's landmark buildings will be plunged into darkness.

In the Octagon people can be warmed between 8.30pm and 9.30pm with performances by the Kia Orana drummers, the band Skybus, and singer Tahu MacKenzie.

Dunedin City Council team member Charlotte Flaherty is among those organising the event, and believes this year it will be bigger, especially as she saw the Kia Orana drummers last year and says they were a hit.

"They were really powerful and energetic. As soon as they started, the crowd just surged towards them."

Ms Flaherty has also heard good things about Skybus, and Tahu MacKenzie, who will be playing acoustically.

The dunedinmusic.com website describes Skybus as "a five-piece folk band, formed about mid-2006ish, originally as a four-piece busking string band, playing mainly at the farmers market".

If Saturday is a typical Dunedin autumn night - a bit chilly - Ms Flaherty says one of the entertainers should help keep people warm.

"We also have the Highly Flammable fire performers. They will be performing as the Kia Orana troupe plays."

Ms Flaherty says safety in darkness is paramount.

"We have a full risk-management plan in effect, because there are a lot of risks involved with total darkness. We're putting reflective gaffer tape on the steps, and people with torches will be guiding the public and Highly Flammable will be performing in a roped-off area."

She's pleased they'll once again be having the floating candles in the fountains, which were a favourite last year.

Ms Flaherty says people are invited to gather in the Octagon before 8.30pm.

She is very thankful she's received help from Volunteering Otago and Scouting Otago.

There are some global major players who support Earth Hour, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.


• BE THERE

Celebrate Earth Hour with the Kia Orana drummers, Highly Flammable, Skybus, and Tahu MacKenzie. 8.30pm tonight in the Octagon.

 

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