You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills from news Talk.

You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills from news Talk.

Said b Nick Tansley, you were the man behind the one of the greatest long term events in Wellington, Carol's by Candlelight. They were iconic. People all out New Zealand used to talk about even people talked about it overseas. You had overseas guests sometimes when they were in town appearing. You had all the talent that you could possibly put together, and it started on the back of a was it a raft or a tug or something. I remember the very very first one. It's over forty years ago. You know why I know that, Nick, because I had the babysit, a six months old son while my wife went and sung with you.

Said b Nick Tansley, you were the man behind the one of the greatest long term events in Wellington, Carol's by Candlelight. They were iconic. People all out New Zealand used to talk about even people talked about it overseas. You had overseas guests sometimes when they were in town appearing. You had all the talent that you could possibly put together, and it started on the back of a was it a raft or a tug or something. I remember the very very first one. It's over forty years ago. You know why I know that, Nick, because I had the babysit, a six months old son while my wife went and sung with you.

That's right, you're lovely, Gina, brilliant, brilliant singer. She was too.

That's right, you're lovely, Gina, brilliant, brilliant singer. She was too.

So tell me why why do we not have those sort of events in Warnington? Why have we lost our big Christmas spirit?

So tell me why why do we not have those sort of events in Warnington? Why have we lost our big Christmas spirit?

That's a very interesting question because there's still Christmas spirits. I mean is it's everywhere because the children keep getting born and they reached the same age where Christmas means huge amounts to them. But life, I suppose has changed of what the expectation has been for doing big events. They used to actually be events that everybody would give generously, nobody got paid, and we would all just turn up. It didn't matter whether you had a truck or if you had a sound system or you had some talent. You would turn up and you would just say, hey, Willington needs a bit of Christmas. Who's in And that's how a lot of those things started. And it was and that was the nucleus to them.

That's a very interesting question because there's still Christmas spirits. I mean is it's everywhere because the children keep getting born and they reached the same age where Christmas means huge amounts to them. But life, I suppose has changed of what the expectation has been for doing big events. They used to actually be events that everybody would give generously, nobody got paid, and we would all just turn up. It didn't matter whether you had a truck or if you had a sound system or you had some talent. You would turn up and you would just say, hey, Willington needs a bit of Christmas. Who's in And that's how a lot of those things started. And it was and that was the nucleus to them.

Could we bring them back, could we do the big events? Could we go back to Orange Bay and start again and put a raft out there? What was it? What did you play on the first time?

Could we bring them back, could we do the big events? Could we go back to Orange Bay and start again and put a raft out there? What was it? What did you play on the first time?

Well, actually, way back then it was the Onslow Brass Band, or they became the Evening Post Brass Band, I think, and they were all doing it, doing it and it was on the back of a truck. And I remember there was no health and safety in those days to the same extent, so they didn't even let the Oriental Bay people know they were having a concert. And when it got completely filled up and buses couldn't get through, it was about then that they realized that they probably need to put some things in place. But that's how these things would occur. And you see, it's just very different now. Anything has to take months to even ask permission to put something festive on a street in the middle of Wellington.

Well, actually, way back then it was the Onslow Brass Band, or they became the Evening Post Brass Band, I think, and they were all doing it, doing it and it was on the back of a truck. And I remember there was no health and safety in those days to the same extent, so they didn't even let the Oriental Bay people know they were having a concert. And when it got completely filled up and buses couldn't get through, it was about then that they realized that they probably need to put some things in place. But that's how these things would occur. And you see, it's just very different now. Anything has to take months to even ask permission to put something festive on a street in the middle of Wellington.

Doesn't it disappoint you as a promoter because they were such great events? And I know you worked very, very hard at it. You were a morning breakfast host on ZM and you had that gag and you were meeting people all over I used to see you all over town meeting with people, sponsors and business people to make it happen. It was a lot of work, wasn't it.

Doesn't it disappoint you as a promoter because they were such great events? And I know you worked very, very hard at it. You were a morning breakfast host on ZM and you had that gag and you were meeting people all over I used to see you all over town meeting with people, sponsors and business people to make it happen. It was a lot of work, wasn't it.

Yeah, Yeah, but it was people had that kind of let you know, let's do stuff attitude, and and sponsors were easier to find, and they had a bit more money to spend on things that were good for their profile. I think it's just it's just become more serious.

Yeah, Yeah, but it was people had that kind of let you know, let's do stuff attitude, and and sponsors were easier to find, and they had a bit more money to spend on things that were good for their profile. I think it's just it's just become more serious.

Why why do we? I mean, we can't. We can't let it go? Are we going to bring the Christmas bird back?

Why why do we? I mean, we can't. We can't let it go? Are we going to bring the Christmas bird back?

Don't we?

Don't we?

Yeah?

Yeah?

I've always been for that, and people ask me every year, surely you've had enough of doing Christmas as you getting older? That can I say, Well, to be honest, I might have, but not the children that stand in front of me every year. They don't. They don't get bored. If anything, it sets them off, makes them feel that we're doing something. And then the parents they see the fun of seeing center with a three year old four year old screaming, yelling and jumping and being incredibly shy, and they love it, don't we Parents absolutely love it and grandparents absolutely love it. So is it a interesting I think the market is there, it's huge, never going to change. But the way in which I think we go about some of these things almost as you say no before you can say yes. In some towns and cities.

I've always been for that, and people ask me every year, surely you've had enough of doing Christmas as you getting older? That can I say, Well, to be honest, I might have, but not the children that stand in front of me every year. They don't. They don't get bored. If anything, it sets them off, makes them feel that we're doing something. And then the parents they see the fun of seeing center with a three year old four year old screaming, yelling and jumping and being incredibly shy, and they love it, don't we Parents absolutely love it and grandparents absolutely love it. So is it a interesting I think the market is there, it's huge, never going to change. But the way in which I think we go about some of these things almost as you say no before you can say yes. In some towns and cities.

Right now, I know that you always do something. You're always putting something together for Christmas because you're so popular. So what have you got on this year for Christmas? And what can people look forward to you performing?

Right now, I know that you always do something. You're always putting something together for Christmas because you're so popular. So what have you got on this year for Christmas? And what can people look forward to you performing?

Well? I still detuned years ago down to a little red trailer that I took some musicians on, and I remember one year we did twenty seven little we know pop up carol shows around Wellington. I've been doing that now, it's supposed for fifteen years and I still do it around in about I think we're involved in the Christmas in the quarters. Fantastic campaign, which I think starts or yes, darts this Saturday.

Well? I still detuned years ago down to a little red trailer that I took some musicians on, and I remember one year we did twenty seven little we know pop up carol shows around Wellington. I've been doing that now, it's supposed for fifteen years and I still do it around in about I think we're involved in the Christmas in the quarters. Fantastic campaign, which I think starts or yes, darts this Saturday.

I think it started last week. I think Katrina said she went to one. She went to one last weekend.

I think it started last week. I think Katrina said she went to one. She went to one last weekend.

So yeah, there's one on Glover Street for instance, or Glover Park that's on Saturday. Involved in that. I'm doing one in Karori, which is the Business Association put on. I'm doing actually one in Carleton, one in Upper Huts and one in Polydrua. So they do, you know, we do get around doing them and they're promoted through their own usually thrown councils. The big thing I suppose that everyone's been aware of is we don't have a saner parade anymore as such, and yet yet Auckland, somehow, which is hats off to them, have found a way to sort of make theirs or make it, give it a rebirth, and it will be probably bigger than it's ever been.

So yeah, there's one on Glover Street for instance, or Glover Park that's on Saturday. Involved in that. I'm doing one in Karori, which is the Business Association put on. I'm doing actually one in Carleton, one in Upper Huts and one in Polydrua. So they do, you know, we do get around doing them and they're promoted through their own usually thrown councils. The big thing I suppose that everyone's been aware of is we don't have a saner parade anymore as such, and yet yet Auckland, somehow, which is hats off to them, have found a way to sort of make theirs or make it, give it a rebirth, and it will be probably bigger than it's ever been.

It was. I watched it on TV last night and I just had jealousy in my head. I just sid that's what exactly what Warrington was. That's what got me talking about today. I thought of all the great events we used to have, and you know they were all coordinated. Carol's one week and next week we do the big Walk downtown, you know, the big Para Aid. Then the following week we do something else. Just lost it. Nick. Always a pleasure to talk and keep up the good work. I know that you do. A lot of people in the city have got amazing respect and love for you for all the stuff that you've done for so so many years, and they are always great events. So we do love you and appreciate you for everything you do.

It was. I watched it on TV last night and I just had jealousy in my head. I just sid that's what exactly what Warrington was. That's what got me talking about today. I thought of all the great events we used to have, and you know they were all coordinated. Carol's one week and next week we do the big Walk downtown, you know, the big Para Aid. Then the following week we do something else. Just lost it. Nick. Always a pleasure to talk and keep up the good work. I know that you do. A lot of people in the city have got amazing respect and love for you for all the stuff that you've done for so so many years, and they are always great events. So we do love you and appreciate you for everything you do.

Thanks, you're a Jim, and Merry Christmas to you, even though it might seem a little early.

Thanks, you're a Jim, and Merry Christmas to you, even though it might seem a little early.

When do you start saying Mary Christmas for people.

When do you start saying Mary Christmas for people.

From about now? And it annoys them to the start of Vicember at the start of the Zebra, and then that seems okay.

From about now? And it annoys them to the start of Vicember at the start of the Zebra, and then that seems okay.

Yeah, I reckon after December one December we start played carols of one December, so I think that's where it starts. But year, just keep up your good work and appreciate you coming on and talking to us.

Yeah, I reckon after December one December we start played carols of one December, so I think that's where it starts. But year, just keep up your good work and appreciate you coming on and talking to us.

Thanks next seeing you out there all right.

Thanks next seeing you out there all right.

Nick Tansey here, what a great well in Tody. I love Nick Tansley. I have so much respect for the guy. He does all that stuff, but all that work, but just because he believes in it. Just because he wants to make it happen.

Nick Tansey here, what a great well in Tody. I love Nick Tansley. I have so much respect for the guy. He does all that stuff, but all that work, but just because he believes in it. Just because he wants to make it happen.

Or from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills. Listen live to news talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio

Or from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills. Listen live to news talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio