More than 40,000 people are in Queenstown for the start of the new ski season and an annual winter festival.
The festival, which began on Friday night, brings almost $20 million into the town's economy.
Festival director Simon Green says the event is a major draw card for the Australian tourist market, and announces to the world that Queenstown is open for winter.
Festival goers have a choice of 60 events, ranging from the silly to the sublime.
In the Birdman event on Saturday the brave threw themselves into the freezing waters of Lake Wakatipu.
