Southern Steamologists Have Presence At National Event

Southern Steampunkers are still amped after spending Queen’s Birthday weekend at the national festival in Oamaru.

Group member Gail Mackintosh said 25 members went from Invercargill, and one of the highlights was a tethered balloon ride that kept many people entertained.

The southern group was in charge of the ‘have a go’ teapot racing event at the festival, which attracted people of all ages, from grandparents to teenagers.

Now that the national organiser of the event had retired, the Southern Steamologists have taken over that role, “and we can add to it and put our own spin on it,” she said.

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

The Southern group – which has 584 followers worldwide, jumped on the teapot bandwagon a year later in 2015.

Gail said the main teapot racing event in Oamaru was just next level, including water features and turntables.

In fact, everything involved with steampunk has its own element of creativity, from the costumes to the props and the humour involved in the MC’ing of the events.

“It’s just given us a new lease and ideas on how better to do things.”

Gail and her partner Barry McIntosh (same name but different),  said both wore outfits made from duvet covers.

“It’s all upcycling at its best.   And there’s a big market for it too,” she said, for those who prefer to buy somebody else’s creation.

You can catch them again on June 30 at the Murihiku night event in the CBD where the group will have a promenade and show off some of their outfits.