Continuing uncertainty about the weather this week means the Manawatu Fireworks Spectacular will now be staged in December.
"We very much wanted to stage the fireworks this Wednesday (November 16) but the forecast for the period leading up to, and on, the night, does not sufficiently reassure us," Manfeild Park chief executive Heather Verry said today.
"Our people have been paying very close attention to all the meteorological advice given to us and everything suggests we should postpone until our second backup date of December 7.
"This is not a decision that is easy to make but the weather ahead, and of the past few weeks, has not made it easy."
An inspection of the infield where the displays are sited and the grass areas required for parking was not reassuring, Mrs Verry said.
"The non-sealed areas are in better shape than they were when we had to postpone for the original date (November 2) but we would only need to have a touch more rain for those areas to again be rendered too soggy."
She identified that some people might now be thinking that this event was one historically blighted by delay, but that was not actually the case.
"Actually, the display has often been held on its first date choice. The only other occasion when we were thwarted by conditions and had to postpone several times was in 2009, when we also ultimately reverted to a December show.
"Last year, of course, everything went perfectly and on the original night."
The Fireworks Spectacular is traditionally one of the biggest annual public events in the Manawatu. The allure of a giant bonfire and the largest, most spectacular fireworks display in the region attracts between 15,000 and 25,000 people.
Money raised is dispensed to a wide variety of charities. The organising committee mainstays are Manfeild Park Trust, Kairanga Lions and Feilding Promotion and with other groups involved on the night, it's a true community event that involves the entire region.