tonkatime --I do not disagree with the general thrust of your comment except the long weekend and people still on holiday bit. The meeting has always been on this weekend. Your comment about the increase in woke people is spot on, the demographics of Wellington has generally changed in last 15+ years. About 30% party vote Green, for example.
The Councils ( not sure about Upper Hutt) do not get in behind the event like they used to. I can remember a street parade through central Wgt in the week leading up to the meeting ( like they do in Melbourne). There used to big banners and flags all over the place.
With regard to yesterday, I was surprised the track was described as soft. We have had quite a lot of drying wind and the temperatures , especially in the Hutt have very high all week, so I cannot understand why the track was not drier.