25 Sep 2015

Hear ye! Hear ye! Otago's in full cry

8:41 am on 25 September 2015

The best solo broadcasters on the planet have gathered in Central Otago for the World Town Crier Tournament.

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In the days before Twitter you needed a big bell and a loud voice. Photo: RNZ / Peter Newport

The eighteen competitors are all skilled at holding a crowd on street corners and will be judged at public events throughout the region over the next week.

The current world champion is Chris Whyman of Canada, who won the title at last year's tournament held in Chester, England.

He compared the craft of the town crier with modern social media saying "from town crying to Twitter the whole idea is to get the news out as efficiently as possible".

Caroline Robinson, President Hon Guild of Town Criers of NZ, Peter Campbell (Australia) and Judy Campbell (current Australian Champion).

Caroline Robinson, President Hon Guild of Town Criers of NZ, Peter Campbell (Australia) and Judy Campbell (current Australian Champion). Photo: RNZ / Peter Newport

But town crying is dying in New Zealand according to competition organiser Paddy-Ann Pemberton.

"New Zealand has only just got our eighth crier, but people love us and we are in great demand to add the X Factor to events."

Most of the contestants have had to find their own funding to get to New Zealand, or they've been sponsored by their home towns.

The competition, which starts today and runs through to next Wednesday, will be judged by a panel of twelve at locations which include Saturday's Alexandra Blossom Festival.

One of the newest town criers in the competition is Lynley McKerrow from Invercargill, representing Southland. She'll be up against stiff competition from overseas, including the current Australian champion Judy Campbell.

Ms Campbell has been a town crier since 2010 and her signature cry includes a spine-tingling Kookaburra rendition.

The winner will be announced at an awards dinner on Wednesday night in Alexandra.

Practice at the Cromwell shopping mall.

Practice at the Cromwell shopping mall. Photo: RNZ / Peter Newport