Lake Wanaka state of mind

With the sun setting over Lake Wanaka, street pianist "Pango" Zamecnik performs for tourists visiting the "Wanaka Tree". Mr Zamecnik has been travelling and busking around the South Island with a $1 piano for the past year. Photo: Tim Miller.
With the sun setting over Lake Wanaka, street pianist "Pango" Zamecnik performs for tourists visiting the "Wanaka Tree". Mr Zamecnik has been travelling and busking around the South Island with a $1 piano for the past year. Photo: Tim Miller.
It's 5 o'clock on a Monday on the shores of Lake Wanaka and the crowd shuffles in.

They are there to take photos as the sun sets on the famous Wanaka Tree but they are also treated to the sounds of street pianist Vojtech ''Pango'' Zamecnik, playing on his mobile piano.

He has been playing a melody for locals and tourists alike around the South Island for the past year, and has been based in Wanaka since last week.

In fact the Czech native feels so happy in Wanaka he might stay for the winter.

''I love it here - really nice people and the scenery is just so beautiful. How can you not be inspired?''

After working in New Zealand for two years in construction, the musically inclined Bohemian has spent the last year touring the country with a piano he carries on the back of his Land Rover.

Finding a piano for a good price has not been an issue.

''I am now on my fifth piano - it's easy to find a piano for $1 in this country. What is difficult is to find a good piano for $1.

Mr Zamecnik said his playing style was improvisational and he took inspiration from the landscapes he played in.

To make his piano mobile, he constructed a wheeled base. He also had to modify his Land Rover, which cost about $10,000.

''The piano was cheap but to move it around was quite expensive.''

When he's not busking, the musician works on his album.

''Hopefully soon I will have an album and people everywhere can listen to my music.''

People can follow Mr Zamecnik and his journey around New Zealand on his website: pianomad.com.

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