A bunch of people were playing tug o’war with a rope marked "the arts", but they were all pulling in the same direction.
There has never been much doubt that Dunedin does the arts well. The city is recognised across the country and the world for its creativity and vibrancy.
Per head of population, we have a high proportion of artists, performers and writers. Not for nothing are we a Unesco City of Literature.
Determining what makes a city like Dunedin so creative is no easy task. It’s possible the mercurial weather has something to do with it, forcing people not to rely solely on being able to do the outdoorsy-type activities which dominate in places with a more reliable climate.
More people gathering indoors is likely to generate a higher number of bright ideas per square metre.
Once a place gains a reputation for ingenuity, imagination and being artistic, it will quickly become a magnet for many others with the same passions.
In these rather grim days, with awful events happening frequently around the world and the threat of more gloom to come, the arts are balm to the soul.
They lift the spirits and show us what humans can achieve. They make us think, they make us laugh.
The artist and artiste alike strive to entertain and inform and tell stories, to add something enduring to the life of where they live.
They are under constant creative pressure to come up with an oeuvre which genuinely reflects their beliefs and encapsulates specific periods of time.
Artists can be intense individuals. But when they work together closely, the benefits for all can be magnified many times.
Dunedin and the South are currently basking in the glow of that collaboration. If you want the arts, the arts is what you’re going to get.
First up have been the eccentric delights of the Dunedin Fringe Festival, which runs until Sunday. Hot on its heels comes the eagerly awaited Dunedin Arts Festival, beginning a week today and offering an eclectic assortment of shows and other performances until April 6.
At the same time, Wānaka is hosting a nine-day festival of colour from March 29, which features an amazing programme, including a community whānau day by the lakefront. And we have iD Dunedin Fashion Week from April 1-6, with its emerging designer awards and the fashion show on April 4 and 5.
Congratulations to all those involved in bringing these shows to the South, from the performers and creators, to the organisers and supporters.
It may be hard to decide what to go and see, but nobody could say there isn’t something for everyone over the next couple of weeks.
Just go home
The sight of an incinerated wallaby as part of so-called celebrations of St Patrick’s Day in Dunedin was truly sickening.
Quite what the poor animal’s charred remains, couch fires and massive amounts of alcohol have in common with Ireland’s national day is up for debate. How many of those drunken revellers actually know anything about Ireland or St Patrick, or even, according to news reports, that New Zealand has wallabies?
There will be many Irish who shake their heads embarrassed at the adoption of the day by some as a chance to wear green and see how much they can drink.
It would be easy to simply blame University of Otago students for all the intoxicated behaviour on yet another party day.
However, for years the university has been quick to point out that not all misbehaving students are theirs, Monday’s events included.
Student services director Claire Gallop says an influx of "interlopers" from out of town at the weekend had contributed to the "incredibly disappointing" conduct.
As usual, the actions of a few can tarnish the reputations of many. While Dunedin eagerly welcomes visitors, those who aren’t prepared to respect the city and locals can just outflux off, and take their wallabies with them.
