The capital is known as ‘windy Wellington’, but in fact average wind speeds there are not much higher than in other coastal cities such as Invercargill and Auckland. Its reputation stems more from the powerful gusts – over 60 km per hour – which blast the city 173 days a year, compared with 30 days a year for Rotorua and 35 for Nelson.”

But it looks pretty windy in this picture!
And the windy weather has caused several shipwrecks on Wellington’s coast.
And here and here are a couple of photos of Wellington’s wind in full effect.

“We’re making the stand that Wellington’s wind is something to be proud of and to celebrate,” says Thomson, who is part of a team organising the city’s inaugural Wind Walk. “There’s nothing more life-affirming and soul-cleansing than a good bluster, and besides, we could argue we have the cleanest air in the country.”

The Wind Walk on September 27 is a family-oriented event that taps into all angles of the wind theme. Starting at 9am, participants make their way from Brooklyn village to the turbine, and are encouraged to fly kites, balloons and flags en route, decorate buggies with windmills and even play wind instruments. Kids can hunt for clues to the WindWalk Quiz, then help plant a windmill garden at the turbine.

There will be a fire engine, music and spot prizes at the top. After enjoying a sausage sizzle and a hot drink, families return to the Brooklyn Community Centre, where a children’s market is being held, with stalls, a bouncy castle and a maze.

Wind Walk participants buy a registration pack, which will include stickers, windmills and goodies from sponsors, with the registration fee raising funds to help the Brooklyn Early Childhood Centre renovate its premises to meet new government regulations.

“In this peak oil environment, we all should be out walking more. And you can catch the Number 7 bus to the start in Brooklyn. The WindWalk is a sustainable event that helps to build a sustainable community,” says fellow organiser Ben Zwartz.

The 4km ascent is estimated to take around 1.5 hours. A bus will be on hand to shuttle people down the hill if they prefer not to walk.

Cost

$30 adult, $20 child.

Sizes

Toddlers: 2T, 3T and 4T
Youth: XS, S, M, L, XL
Womens: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL
Mens: S, M, L, XL, 2XL

Dimensions

Toddlers

Youth

Women

Men

Colour options

Wind Walk t-shirt colour options

Email ncase@lighths.co.nz with the subject line: www t shirt order

Include your name, phone number, postal address and your collection preference – either posted or, for orders received before 21 September, to be collected on the Wind Walk day.

And for each t-shirt, please list:
Size, colour option, and quantity.

We will confirm by email, with total cost including postage and packaging and details for online payments.

Post
Print off the attached form and post with your cheque to:
Open Air Studio
22 Lincoln Street
Brooklyn
Wellington 6021

You will need:

• A lightweight piece of plastic: Rubbish bags are suitable, or used present wrapping foil. I used a 70cm x 63cm piece of bubble wrap to make mine.
• Two sticks, lightweight and not fragile, 64cm long: I used two green bracken fern stems. Other branches like this would be suitable, a pair of shorter sticks could be taped together to make a longer one, but you could use a stiff piece of wire, straighten out a coat hanger (ask Mum or Dad first).
• Tape: I used masking tape, any sort of tape should be suitable, sellotape, duct tape etc.
• String: I used builder’ string. I wouldn’t advise going heavier gauge than this.
• Step 1: Select suitable materials. If your plastic or sticks are not quite long enough scale sizes down to suit. Lay out plastic and cut to template shown. Figures shown as ratio’s, scale your kite to suit, take care not to go too large as these will more readily and will exert more force on your string which can cause burning.

A plan of the kite. Click to view the larger image.

Step 2: Cut sticks to length and tape them along the fold line at top and bottom and at mid point just above triangle opening.

Step 3: Apply tape to corners of triangle opening to prevent tearing.

Step 4: Cut a 3.0m length of string and tape each end to either side of kite.

Step 5: Select mid-point of string and form a loop. Attach good length of string to this. Optional to attach strings using a fishing line swivel.

Step 6: Decorate and go catch a breeze.

Good luck!

More kites

Here are some links to more kite plans:

How to Make a Kite Out of a Plastic Bag

Build a ‘square-incher’ micro kite

Making a tetrahedral kite

Making a 2 kite

Thanks to Laura Nyberg and Whittakers for donating a box of chocolate squares.

Thanks to David Sheppard and The Interislander for sponsoring some of the costs towards the production of Wellington Wind Walk t-shirts.

Thanks to Megan McSweeny and Go Wellington Buses for the free use of a bus and driver for part of the day.

Thanks to John Dawson, Craig Ireson and the Wellington City Council for sponsoring the cost of equipment used on the day.

Thanks to Nick Hazlewood and Electrical Concepts for their very generous sponsorship.

Thanks to Tim and Kaye Whitehead, No. 1 RE/MAX New Zealand 2007 for their generous sponsorship.

Thanks to John Crowther and Turners and Growers for donating the bananas.

Thanks to Chris Thornton and Ricoh for copying.

Thanks to Julie Moore and Moore Wilson for donating the hot chocolate.

Thanks to Ron Church and Thorndon New World for donating some of the supplies.

Thanks to Wing On Chang Foodmarket for the milk.

Thanks to Ben Zwartz, Registered Professional Surveyor for contributing time

Thanks to Nigel Case of Light house architecture for contributing time and design services.

Thanks too to:
Aro St Video
The Bach
Brooklyn Pharmacy
Karori Sanctuary
Penthouse Cinema
Empire Cinema
Te Papa
Capital E
Wild Chef Gourmet Food
Ros Dibley
Anna Macey
Brendon Foot Motors
Jenny Lang at Wild Chef
Caffe L’affare and
The Children’s Bookshop
for the fantastic spot prizes!

Wellington Windwalk 2008 poster

These posters will be appearing around Brooklyn and nearby suburbs soon.