World Science Fiction Convention comes to Wellington
Stuff reports:
Thousands of science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts are set to transform Wellington into a sci-fi metropolis.
The capital has been selected to host the 78th World Science Fiction Convention in 2020, an event that celebrates all aspects of the science fiction and fantasy genres.
It will be the first time that New Zealand has hosted the event, which will feature Game of Thrones author George R R Martin as the toastmaster.
This is very exciting. The convention will be huge, and the chance to meet the great GRRM amazing. I just hope we have at least one more book by then!
CoNZealand co-chairs Norman Cates and Kelly Buehler have fought to host the convention in Wellington since 2010.
They have had the support of Tourism New Zealand and the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA) in this year’s bid, which received 643 of 726 votes cast. …
The event, which also hosts the renowned Hugo Awards (the sci-fi literary equivalent of the Grammy Awards), was first held in New York, 1939.
Tourism New Zealand’s chief executive Stephen England-Hall said the event would showcase New Zealand as a place where creative thinking is embraced.
Award-winning speculative fiction writer Lee Murray considered New Zealand’s connection to Middle Earth, and other films, a huge draw card for the sci-fi visitors.
“Someone has even asked whether there would be a What We Do in the Shadows tour,” she said.
Wellington is a great location for fans. So much to see and do.