Southern Steamologists Gaining National Attention

Southern steampunkers have been invited to help run the Steampunk New Zealand festival in Oamaru this Queen’s Birthday weekend.

The Southern Society of Steampunk Steamologists recently held its annual Teapot Racing carnival in Queen’s Park, and it has proved so popular that Oamaru organisers want them to be part of the national event.

Club president Gail Mackintosh said the New Zealand event with the teapot racing involves a lot more skill, with elaborate water features, and all the bells and whistles (literally).

The southern group will also hold a ‘have a go’ event before the national one, giving the club a real presence at the festival.

“We’ll set up our own course to give people a taste of what it’s about, before the main event,” she said.

The group has also been asked to MC the teapot racing, provide a marshal and be in charge of tickets.

“This is big, this is really huge,” Gail said.

The southern steampunkers are starting to get a real following around New Zealand, after the group just returned from a road trip visiting many towns and cities.

Teapot racing often attracts more spectators than it does competitors, but organisers always love the response from the public.

The event involves racing customised teapots around an obstacle course to gain points – you can also bribe the judges, and manipulate the rules.

Teapot racing originated in Dunedin and had its first public outing at the 2014 Steampunk NZ Festival in Oamaru.

The Southern group – which has 584 followers worldwide, jumped on the teapot bandwagon a year later in 2015, and haven’t looked back.

Steampunk originated in New Zealand and now has a following worldwide – steamologists either make their own outfits, such as turning old quilts and blankets into clothing, or they source them online.

“Whatsoninvers.nz founder Mike Sanford said, “It’s great that the Southern Steampunkers have got the recognition they deserve. They’re a bunch of passionate people. Some of the outfits and accessories/gadgets they make must take hours, but they look awesome. It’s been fun promoting the Teapot Racing over the years and great to see the crowds grow and grow.”