Summer festivals are seriously good fun and what we’re loving is how here in New Zealand more and more are becoming sustainable too. And as far as festivals with conscience go, nothing is more epic than Splore, taking place on February 17-19 at Tapapakanga Park, Auckland.
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The family-friendly, beach-side festival of Splore is back again in 2017 with more great activities, music acts, carnival fun and quirky entertainers.
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But this year it’s taking things a step further again, announcing that from 2017 the festival will be water bottle-free. That means plastic single-serve water bottles won’t be sold onsite. Instead, you have the option to take your own water bottle to the festival, or buy a Globelet water bottle to keep and refill from numerous water stations that will be dotted about the festival. You will also be able to pay for a ‘premium refill’ of chilled sparkling water at the bar, if that’s your preference.
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Globelet is the brainchild of plastic lover and environmentalist Ryan Everton. Each year his company, which produces cups and now reusable water bottles for festivals from recycled plastic, stops more than 150 tonnes of plastic cups going to landfill each year. For Splore Everton has partnered with company Meet PAT who manufacture some of the world’s best portable event-based and permanent water bottle refill stations and drinking fountains.
“The hope is more major events in Australasia and New Zealand will open up to the idea of getting rid of disposable bottles, and offering a waste-free and more enjoyable drinking option,” says Everton.
New! Wellness Central Splore will also go glowstick-free in 2017 – given that glowsticks contain nasty chemicals that end up in landfill. It is also asking festival goers to avoid cheap plastic glitter when thinking about their costumes for New Zealand’s greatest dress-up costume party which takes place on the Saturday night. As glitter is made of tiny pieces of plastic similar to the micro beads in cosmetics, Splore have come up with an alternative and are sourcing a bio-glitter from the UK which will be supplied by BodyFX.
Also new this year is the Ceres Organics Wellness Central, which will allow festival goers the chance to experience a wide variety of holistic health options in a unique and dynamic healing space. There will be demonstrations, activities and workshops aimed at increasing knowledge about keeping healthy including nutrition, herbal medicine, yoga, meditation, laughter, yoga and energy medicine. Wellness Central will also be a great ‘chillation’ spot to consciously create better health and wellbeing. Good editor Carolyn Enting will also be giving a talk celebrating the conscious living space, and will cover off aspects of healing (from grief to food); living your purpose; and share how Good has recently made a difference through its social justice stories for tigers in Thailand, and people in Guatemala. The session with end with the optional activity of a mindful colouring-in exercise.
We can’t wait to check it out!
More Splore highlights
· New Zealand Dance Company The company will perform Lumina on Friday night in the Yealands Living Lounge, and a family show on the beach on Saturday.
· Dress up party Always fun, the costume theme for this year’s Saturday night party is ‘strangely familiar – the family reunion’.
· Breakfast Club A hearty sit-down beachside brunch to enjoy with your friends and a Bloody Mary. Bookings essential.
