Jolly Green Giant making the Rainbow connection

Once he was everywhere, featuring in some 400 television shows screened right around Planet Earth; these days Dr David Bellamy is a far less-spotted rarity.

But he’s turning up in Rotorua – and soon.

Now in his mid-70s, Bellamy stills sports the famous “old man’s beard” which he used to good effect in campaigns to rid New Zealand of the weed of the same name.

And he’s also still very much the larger than life character that’s inferred by The Jolly Green Giant – the title of his biography.

It’s a smorgasborg of personality traits that is guaranteed to make a close up encounter with the world’s best-known treehugger an unforgettable occasion, and one being only offered on a strictly limited basis in Rotorua.

Here in New Zealand to support celebrations marking 25 years since native forest timber extraction was halted at Whirinaki Forest Park, Bellamy will be spending a fair bit of his time over the September 4-6 weekend out in the “Dinosaur Forest” as he dubbed it back in 1984.

Part of his schedule however, sees him making a guest appearance at Rainbow Springs and Kiwi Encounter.

Promotions manager Toni Thompson says all Rainbow Springs locals card holders who renew their cards (or buy new ones) in July and August will go in the draw to win a tour of the park with Dr Bellamy - “and I am sure we will fit in tea and cake at some stage too.”

Outside of winning the Rainbow Springs draw, the other major opportunity to enjoy Bellamy’s musings is at a gala dinner being hosted at Rotorua’s Novotel on Friday, September 4.

Reflecting on the progress of the vision which the successful anti-logging protesters used to get the forest protected, Bellamy will also cast his eye to the future and give his views of where communities and conservation are headed in these troubled global economic times.

He will also be joined by guest presenter Nic Vallance – who’s sort of following in the jolly Dr’s footsteps as the star of the TVNZ6 conservation mini-doco series “Meet the Locals”.

The pair will be supported by a third presenter, from Ngati Whare for whom the Whirinaki has always been home.

Ngati Whare recently signed an agreement in principle with the Crown to settle Treaty of Waitangi claims and has big plans for the future.

Their influence, along with indigenously-inspired cuisine and fine sustainably-produced wine from Tohu Wines, will give the evening a special cultural flavour and make it the undoubted highlight of the year for those interested in conservation and its role in tourism and the sustainability of communities in the years to come.

Admission is by ticket only with reservations being taken through Destination Rotorua Tourism Marketing.

 

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For further comment;

Toni Thompson, Promotions Manager Rainbow Springs – 07 350 0440 extn 849; mobile 027 271 2545

Steve Brightwell, Whirinaki25 Organising Committee – 027 306 2366