It was billed as the biggest celebration of summer and the 15,761 people – not counting exhibitors and participants – who attended over two days at the weekend were happy to endorse that.
Behind the scenes: Thumbs up from back room helpers, from left: Curtis Reymer, Connor Mellsop, Hunter Mannington, Alex Dixon, Tiger Moth pilot Peter Ryan, Andrew Reymer, Janette Douglas, Liz Stolwyk, Josh Reymer, Manaaki Heke and Liam Friis.
Organisers have plenty to mull over from the inaugural Great Kiwi Summer event at Lake Karāpiro, said Mighty River Domain chief executive Liz Stolwyk who was already looking 12 months ahead with three hours still to go.
The Light and Sound Show provided 30 minutes of variety.
The Light and Sound Show on Saturday night was the highlight although waiting for it to get dark made for a long day for families of young children who had been there since the gates opened at 11am.
Having Armistice in Cambridge there made for a poignant weekend as various war battles were re-enacted with surprising accuracy.
But there was plenty to keep everyone interested, water bottle stations, sunscreen, food outlets and in usual Karāpiro Domain fashion, clean toilets!
Briefing time: one of the lifeguards at Waterworld briefs participants before they board the inflatable waterpark.
Pep talk for participants playing American soldiers at D-Day on the lower battlefield.
The D-Day battle featured realistic artillery like this shell rocket.
Olympic gold medallist Ellesse Andrews was one of the medal winners from Paris – the others were Rebecca Petch, Ally Wollaston and Shaane Fulton – and posed for plenty of selfies.
A New Zealand Navy Zodiac craft was part of the display for Armistice in Cambridge but was called into service when one man got in trouble on the water in his kayak.
Kiwi BMX star Jed Mildon of Taupō – the first person in the world to do a quad backflip on a BMX bike – was part of the Big Air champs at the Great Kiwi Summer Festival.
The Lake Karāpiro playground and its climbing equipment was a magnet for children during the two days.
Peter Ryan’s Matamata Sky Ventures had fly bys over Lake Karāpiro on both days featuring a Tiger Moth and the unique home built Air Bike plane.
Dad’s Army: Telling the story of New Zealand’s Home Guard were, from left: Philip Hobbs (Hamilton), Mark Purdy (Morrinsville), Mike Bourke (Hamilton), Brett Curtis (Whakatane), Mark Naudé (Te Aroha).
Waterworld’s inflatable waterpark had plenty of splashes, slipping and sliding.
Lake Karāpiro water ski clubs took to the water to show some of their tricks.
A New Zealand Navy Zodiac craft was part of the display for Armistice in Cambridge but was called into service when one man got in trouble on the water in his kayak.
Strive Performing Arts put on a dance show before the Light and Sound event.
Armistice in Cambridge’s reenactment of the New Zealand Land Wars of the 1800s provided a valuable lesson for onlookers on the brutal action that took place in Waipā.
