Press — 2006
The Dominion Post (Wellington, NZ)
An excerpt from Life section
14 December 2006
The Dominion Post (Wellington, NZ)
6 December 2006
City goes extra mile for Sir Elton
In the few hours Elton John is in New Zealand he will be lavished with gifts and food. Sir Elton arrives in Wellington this afternoon from Australia on a private jet. He will be whisked to Westpac Stadium in a new chauffeur-driven Mercedes, where he will be taken to his suite.
"He's only here a matter of hours but you'd think we were fitting out an entire house," promoter Phil Sprey said of Sir Elton's "green room". The suite will feature leather couches, rugs, coffee tables, lamps and glass work by Nelson's Hoglund Glass. Sir Elton is fond of the one-off glass creations made by husband and wife team Ola and Marie Hoglund and already has several of their works.
Sir Elton has requested bunches of flowers in his personal rooms _ but has stipulated no chrysanthemums, carnations, lilies or daisies. While the performer doesn't drink alcohol, crew members will have a selection of New Zealand wines to choose from. Because time is so tight, the superstar won't have time for a proper "sitdown" dinner before the concert so Wellington caterer Ruth Pretty is providing a selection of cherries, strawberries, raspberries, New Zealand lamb cutlets and New Zealand cheeses.
Sir Elton is travelling with a staff of 28, including a hairstylist and makeup artist. They will all be given pounamu pendants, books on Wellington, and a selection of New Zealand music. Sir Elton will also be given a whalebone necklace, made by Wellington's Weta Workshop, and beauty products by local woman Margaret Hema and New Zealand companies Trilogy and Living Earth.
Mr Sprey said he wanted to go the extra mile because he hoped the singer and his crew would spread the good word about Wellington. Sir Elton flies to Melbourne after the concert ends. His piano and other equipment will be trucked to Ohakea to be flown out because it is too heavy for Wellington Airport. The weather is forecast to be fine for tonight's concert.
The furniture used by Sir Elton and his crew will be auctioned to raise money for Wellington Free Ambulance. It will go on display at Parker Ferguson's Thorndon Quay store on Friday. Bidding will close on December 10. - The Dominion Post
The Dominion Post (Wellington, NZ)
by Carolyn Enting, Fashion Editor
12 October 2006
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