Dannevirke: Kids have great time hunting and fishing

Jed and Will Billing and Katie Bealing bring their hares and turkeys in for weighing.

There are now fewer magpies dive-bombing people around the district and Mark Arnold's cows have their crop back after a very successful kids' hunting and fishing weekend at Norsewood.

But the Norsewood and Districts School's major fundraiser was less about the game caught and more about spending time with the kids, organiser Vanessa Dorreen said.

"The weigh-in on Sunday was a great community day, but the thing which brings a tear to my eyes is the feedback from the children," she said. "Last year our kids wrote thank you letters to our sponsors and it wasn't who had won or who had the biggest or the heaviest animal, instead their comments were all the same. They said, 'we were out with mum and dad for the weekend'. That's so special."

Blake Johnston, 8, (left) with Harry Baxter, 7, and his sister Alice, 5, and Jade Johnston 5. The children had been out until 2.30am hunting and were very proud of their bag.

This year there were 109 entries, with every critter from rabbits, hares, possums, magpies, turkeys, deer, pigs and a trout entered in the event, after children had spent time around the district hunting with their mums and dads.

"It's a great day out for the kids," grandad John Dorreen said.

Jubilation as the girls' team takes out the tug of war from the boys at the hunting and fishing day at Norsewood and District School.

Five-year-old Parker Arnold had been out with his dad Mark and came back with a massive 7.7kg turkey as well as hares, possums and a very rare white turkey.

"My cows can have their crop back now," Mark said.

Last year Katie Bealing won with a 16-pointer stag, but this year she and her family had bagged themselves two smaller, 10 and nine pointers.

Little Cody Black, 2, was a bit too small to be shooting, but he was as proud as punch as he delivered the family bag for the weigh-in.

"He was definitely out there," he mum said.

Out until 2.30am were Blake and Jade Johnston along with Harry and Alice Baxter.

"It was great fun," they chorused.

Ashton Ward had gone further afield to Herbertville, but wished he'd stayed at home.

"My big brother and I caught two turkeys, a hare each and a rabbit," Ashton said. "But there were no possums or magpies even though we'd stayed the night out there. But my friend Tom Francis shot a big stag on our property while we were away. Next year we'll stay on our farm and shoot."

Vanessa said she was delighted with the success of the event.

"Half of our entries were from town children who attend Ruahine School, so I'm really pleased with the support. It was great," she said.

But it wasn't all about hunting and fishing. The tug of war competitions gave everyone a good laugh.

"They were hilarious and such a leveller, especially the competition between the mums and dads," Vanessa said.

The money raised from the event, which was supported by 79 sponsors, from Waipawa to Woodville, will help pay for new computers for the school.