Patrick Dault from Love Taupō and Ken Harris from Town Centre Taupō join Jesse in the Lake FM studio to talk about the start of summer.

Patrick says Graffiato is the unofficial kickoff, with new murals now open (grab the map from Taupō Street Art). He also runs through the big events coming up: Cycle Challenge, IRONMAN, Seal at the Taupō Summer Concert and the North Island Wakeboarding Champs in Mangakino.

Ken shares what’s planned for Halloween in the town centre, said to be the biggest in New Zealand. It’s on Friday 30 October from 3:30 to 5:30pm, with 40+ businesses handing out treats, free face painting, a costume competition, the ghost train and a giant bubble performer. He also previews a family-friendly New Year’s Eve on Roberts Street from noon to 8pm, with the Blind Venetians playing from 5pm.

Plus the big debate: is barbecue season a thing, or is it all year round?

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Patrick Dault from Love Taupō talks about the region’s first tourism awards on 19 November, including a new People’s Choice award where locals can vote for their favourite business. He also explains why tourism matters to Taupō: around 700 students come home every summer to work and put about $7 million into the local economy.

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Patrick Dault from Love Taupō and Scott Forsythe from 5 Mile Distilling join Lake FM for a Love Taupō check-in ahead of the third annual Treats of Taupō.

They talk about the growing role of food and beverage in Taupō’s visitor economy, why people are travelling specifically for Treats of Taupō, the talent helping shape the region’s dining scene, and what it could take for Taupō to become even better known as a food destination.

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