Central Hawke’s Bay stitching together: The story behind the Christmas Bunting Project

Decorative, locally-made bunting being put up in Waipukurau’s main street this week.

Community is at the heart of the Beats, Bites and Buys event this Sunday in Waipukurau and Waipawa, and it’s not a surprise the community is behind some of the seasonal decorations.

In a spirit of creativity and collaboration, the Central Hawke’s Bay community has come together to craft this colourful addition to this year’s Beats, Bites and Buys event.

It started with a simple idea: add a touch of festive charm — on a budget — to the streets of Waipukurau and Waipawa. What followed was creativity, community support, sustainability, and skill-building.

The community wanted something sustainable that could be re-used year after year — hence recycled fabric recreated as bunting.

Some of the sewing group members at work creating the community’s new decorative bunting.

EIT Central Hawke’s Bay Campus had a group that had recently completed a sewing short course. Recognising an opportunity to build on their newfound skills, the Central Hawke’s Bay District Libraries invited them to continue their sewing journey, led by their enthusiastic tutor Carol Bond.

More than 750 metres of bunting was created by the team at their twice-weekly gatherings at Te Huinga Wai – Knowledge & Learning Hub in Waipukurau, transforming piles of donated fabric. The space was available to the group through the Connect to Learn project, which offers after-hours access to Te Huinga Wai, supporting the community to enhance their skill sets.

Waipawa and Takapau Lions’ financial contributions helped make the project possible and the bunting will adorn Waipukurau and Waipawa’s central businesses as well as shops and community buildings in Takapau, Otane, Ongaonga, and Tikokino.

The bunting is more than just decoration. It provides a meaningful way for community members to connect, learn, and grow. The sewing team took pride in their work, honing their skills while creating something to bring joy to thousands over the coming weeks leading to Christmas.

Special thanks go to the Waipawa and Takapau Lions, EIT Central Hawke’s Bay Campus, the Central Hawke’s Bay District Libraries and everyone who contributed materials and expertise.