Twizel's population is expected to increase five-fold next week, as competitors and supporters arrive for the Maadi Cup rowing at Lake Ruataniwha, including extra police.
The secondary schools' rowing championships, held every second year at Twizel, has more than 1700 competitors from 105 schools throughout New Zealand competing in about 400 races from Monday, with finals on Friday and Saturday.
Twizel's representative on the Mackenzie District Council, Dave Pullen, yesterday estimated that by the time coaches, supporters and families were added in, more than 5000 extra people would be in the town, which has a permanent population of about 1100.
During the two days of the finals, that could even increase by another 2000, he said.
The event, which alternates each year with the New Zealand rowing championships at Lake Ruataniwha, is worth a lot of money to the town, although Mr Pullen was not aware of any study which had worked out how much.
‘‘I suppose people could spend around $1000 each during the week, particularly when you add in accommodation and food,'' he said.
All accommodation in Twizel was booked, including many of the town's holiday homes not being used by their owners. People also stayed as far away as Tekapo, Omarama and Otematata.
Mr Pullen said the Twizel Community Board organised and paid for alcohol-free entertainment on the final night next Saturday, which usually attracted about 300. Some schools also organised their own entertainment.
The big influx of young people has caused problems in the past but extra police were being brought in to supplement Twizel's two-man squad. A sergeant and four constables would be sent from Timaru.
