The programme for an upcoming nature festival in Dunedin has been announced.
About 40 people attended the release of the Wild Dunedin programme at Harbourside Grill, in Fryatt St, last week.
Festival convener Neil Harraway said the inaugural four-day nature festival, which starts on April 22, would have about 50 events.
‘‘There is a good mix of free stuff from community events, which are at the heart of what we want to be, and great deals from the commercial operators.''
The festival would celebrate Dunedin's unique nature and raise awareness of it, by getting local people into it and helping conservation.
‘‘So celebration, information and activation,'' Mr Harraway said.
Morgan Foundation economist Geoff Simmons would speak at the opening festival event at Otago Museum.
Mr Harraway hoped the festival would raise Dunedin's profile nationally and internationally.
The festival had been granted charitable status this month, so the ‘‘sky's the limit'' for the potential growth of the event.
With greater funding, a central event would become the focus of the festival.
‘‘We've talked about a music event, we've talked about a wildlife film festival, we've talked about a mass planting or other conservation activity - but it's wide open, so we welcome your ideas.''
Mr Harraway hoped the festival would grow to become a popular part of Dunedin's annual calender.
'‘We want to open up discussions on what this festival can be and will engage further with the Dunedin nature community and the wider community.''
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull, speaking at the launch, said it was great the city had its first nature festival.
‘‘This Wild Dunedin event will celebrate, educate and activate people's interest in nature and hopefully inspire them to do something in nature and for nature.''
