NZ Machine Knitters’ Society Festival 2004

Wednesday 14 July 2004

Good evening...I'm delighted to be able to officially open the Canterbury area version of the New Zealand Machine Knitters Society Festival. Even by my standards, I understand that I am in fact a little late, given that you all got started last Sunday.

Equally, as a politician in an election year, I can relate easily to your keen interest in the subject of "who's won what" that will follow on from this official welcoming.

One of the really fun things about being Mayor is that you get to take part in lots of events where people are utterly passionate about their own pet obsessions and hobbies. I quite often get asked by people that forget that I'm a hobby addict myself, if I find such events boring. Usually I just say "nope." Actually I should say "nope, because I am amongst my own at such events."

I am, of course, a fully paid up member of the dreaded vintage car restoring tribe. We work at a pace that would make machine knitting look like the most fast-paced activity on earth. I was reminded of that recently when my eldest adult son looked at me revving up my newly restored Chrysler with narrowed eyes. He pointed out that the Chrysler looked a lot different from the chassis we had pulled out of a river bank when he was about 12. He also unkindly pointed out that the gleam in my eye had not faded at all. In fact, in his opinion, it had got worse.

So rest assured I do understand the need for all to have an interest in life. I am even willing to admit that the work here does have a somewhat more pleasing visual element than most of my creative efforts. It's wonderful, which I have to admit is not the sort of praise I hear very often with my own creative output.

I hope you have a great rest of conference and prize giving.