This weekend Lug (Lego User Group) South will be staging its traditional Southland Brickshow at ILT Stadium Southland with 61 exhibitors’ groups showing their designs built with the colourful blocks.
While there will be plenty for the public over the two-day event, group secretary and trustee Gavin Evans said this year’s show will offer a special opportunity for Southlanders.
Lego Masters NZ winners Glenn Knight and Jake Roos will be taking part in the event, displaying some of their creations and their beloved trophy which they won after competing with the best Kiwi brick builders.
Mr Evans was stoked to host them and said they would be live building a replica of a Langland’s hotel room at the event.
"It will be almost like watching Lego Masters live.
"These guys are the first Lego masters ever in New Zealand ."
He believed their presence and talent would help to bring even more people to the event.
He had seen an increase in the popularity of the hobby since the TV show aired early this year.
"I think people are really embracing the blocks and bricks.
"It is very cool that Lego has been highlighted as a creative kind of artistic medium. We have a lot of people coming to us to understand what we do."
Besides the displays and live demonstrations, the event will also hold an auction with proceeds donated to the suicide-prevention charity, I Am Hope, created by Mike King.
There were unique and rare sets to be auctioned, Mr Evans said.
Another highlight was a piece which recreates two New Zealand native birds and a mural created by his wife Donella Evans, which he believed to be the biggest one at the event.
It took hundreds of hours to build and had between 65,000 and 70,000 pieces, he said.
