Kassius-Kage Petuha had never been to a farm, let alone seen an alpaca before.
When he did, his reaction was priceless.
In a moment captured by Kimi Ora Community School teacher Louise Taotahi, the 5-year-old along with classmate Julian Nelson, 6, can be seen hugging Barney - their arms tightly wrapped around its neck, their eyes closed, and their heads pressing against the fluffy creature.
"I hugged the animals," Kassius-Kage told Hawke's Bay Today with a big grin on his face on Friday.