Trans-Tasman rivalry hits Turangi

Town Criers from both sides of the Tasman will battle it out in Turangi on Sunday 11 April in a Trans-Tasman Town Crier clash, as a follow up to the 11th New Zealand Town Crier Competition held in Turangi.

It will be the first time Turangi has held the bi-annual event, which runs on both Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 April. The competition will consist of three cries from each crier held in a public area, the first on the subject of the competitor’s home town, the second on the host town, and the third on the subject of the competitor’s choice.

Each cry is limited to 125 words and must contain three “oyez” and one “God save the Queen”. Three local guest judges will judge the event. Judges will award points based on diction, inflection, volume, and clarity. All are encouraged to come and watch the public events.

While the main competition is reserved for New Zealand Town Criers, visiting guest Town Criers from Australia will be invited to take part in a special trans-Tasman slagging session reserved for the end of the weekend’s events.

Turangi town-crier and event-organiser Ron Fryer says the events will be entertaining to watch and hopes the whole town comes out in support. “It’s a chance for us town criers to represent our town and compete at a national level. I can’t wait to put Turangi’s best foot forward. The Aussie vs Kiwi cries are always a good laugh too.”

The art of town crying harks back to ancient times, when public notices had to be read out in a town’s civic centre due to a lack of mass printed media. Ron says there is still an ancient Town Criers Guild in England that oversees town criers world-wide, and sets the rules for competitions. “This ancient tradition is how the Romans would have announced that Caesar was dead!” says Ron, “so it is important for us to keep this tradition alive.”