Hana Koko (the Maori name for Santa) is expected to arrive at Waitangi in a waka instead of a sleigh, just like last Christmas. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF
Hana Koko (the Maori name for Santa) is expected to arrive at Waitangi in a waka instead of a sleigh, just like last Christmas. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF
A weekly round-up of news snippets, events and oddities from the Bay of Islands and around the Mid North
After years of difficulty caused by overheating reindeer and getting stuck in sand, Santa has finally abandoned his sleigh and will arrive in Northland using transport better suited to local conditions.
Santa - or Hana Koko in te reo Maori - first tried using a waka to deliver his presents to the Bay of Islands last year. Following the success of that trial the big man is expected to once again trade his reindeer for a young crew from the Waitangi Waka Ama Club.
Rumour on the kumara vine has it that Hana Koko will come ashore at Waitangi, on the beach opposite Te Tii Marae, some time on Thursday afternoon, December 15.
For the best display of all things Christmassy in the Mid North, head to Kaikohe and check out Santa's Grotto.
It's the fifth year that Santa has set up his headquarters on Broadway with the help of a band of volunteer elves from the Kaikohe Community Arts Council.
The grotto features more than 80 Christmas trees, each decorated by a school, business or community group, a craft table where kids can make their own cards or baubles for the remembrance tree, and random visits from the big man himself.
Santa's lounge also welcomes musicians and carol singers who feel like stopping by to lend a little extra Christmas spirit.
You can find Santa's Grotto is located in the old hardware shop at 81 Broadway until December 23. It is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10.30am until at least 2.30pm. If there are enough volunteers and kids around it may stay open until 4pm.
Teighan Lloydd, 15, from Mangawhai, checks out a few of the 86 Christmas trees at last year's Santa's Grotto in Kaikohe. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF
As an added attraction this year Kaikohe Library is organising storytime sessions every Tuesday from 10.30-11am. All children are welcome but the rhymes, stories and craft activities are aimed at kids under 10.
Christmas carols in Kerikeri
The Bay of Islands Singers will be leading community carols in the Turner Centre Plaza, Kerikeri, from 6-7pm this evening, December 14. Free entry; come early to get a seat.
Christmas extravaganza
Excite Church is holding a free Christmas concert from 5pm this Saturday, December 17, in Kerikeri. The line-up includes R&B singer Pieter T, Identity Dance Crew and Christmas carols, with Santa and his elves taking a break from the toy factory to put in a guest appearance. The event will take place in the Plaza, downstairs at the Turner Centre.
Kerikeri's newest church opens
After six long years in the wilderness the Kerikeri Union Church is opening a new place of worship at the corner of Kerikeri Rd and the Heritage Bypass this Saturday, December 17.
Called Cornerstone, or Whare Karakia o Manako, the new church and community hall will be formally opened with a celebratory service at 10.30am followed by tree planting, a shared lunch and an "open floor" for anyone who wishes to share a story or a greeting. A dawn blessing will be held at 5am.
The union church used to be at the corner of Kerikeri Rd and Butler Rd, where Countdown is now. The congregation met in the chapel at Kerikeri Retirement Village for six years between the sale of the old site and the opening of the new church.
The old church was a hub of community activity ranging from fortnightly carboot sales to club meetings, public talks and socials. That role is expected to return once the new church opens.
The church is part of the Kaeo-Kerikeri Union Parish, a Methodist-Presbyterian partnership which also meets in the historic Wesleydale Memorial Church in Kaeo.
Sailing legend to star on puppet show
Kerikeri sailing legend Derry Godbert is appearing alongside a furry puppet monster in a children's TV show next week. PHOTO / SUPPLIED
Kerikeri sailing legend Derry Godbert will star alongside a puppet monster called Moe and some of the town's young sailors in a children's TV show next week.
The boating-themed episode of The Moe Show will screen at 7.35am on Tuesday, December 20, on TV3. If you miss the show it will available on demand the next day at www.3now.co.nz/shows/the-moe-show/94360.
Mr Godbert's efforts as a sailing coach have been credited with town's extraordinary record of producing sailing champions such as Andrew Murdoch, Blair Tuke and the Kerikeri High School sailing team.
The Bald Angels, a Kerikeri-based charity, is holding its annual gift appeal for Northland kids who might otherwise get no Christmas treats at all.
New, unwrapped presents can be dropped off at collection points in Kerikeri (Cafe Cinema), Paihia (PKF Poutsma Lemon accountants), Waipapa (Our Place early childhood learning centre), Russell (Top Ten Holiday Park), Te Tii (Bay of Islands International Academy) and Kaikohe (Hillcrest Kindergarten, Kaikohe Fires Station).
The gifts will be distributed by Bald Angels partners including the police, Womens Refuge, Northland District Health Board, Family Start, Hospice Mid Northland and Kerikeri/Kaeo Plunket.
A bizarre bazaar
Starting this Saturday, Village Arts and Outpost Hokianga will come together to create a summer-long pop-up exhibition in Kohukohu blurring the boundaries between art gallery, design store, boutique and second-hand market.
John Morunga's carvings and paintings feature in a pop-up exhibition at Village Arts in Kohukohu. PHOTOS / SUPPLIED
This year's event, called Bizarre Bazaar, marks the sixth summer the Kohukohu art gallery and the legendary fashion shop, formerly based in Rawene, have joined forces.
Outpost Hokianga will bring its category-defying range of designer clothing, books and trinkets - still keeping to its original ethos that a customer should be able to wander in with 50 cents or $5000 and leave satisfied - alongside an exhibition featuring artworks by Christine Butler of Opononi and John Morunga from Panguru. Butler's ephemeral works are made with plastic bags and contrast strongly with Morunga's instinctive paintings and carvings.
Christine Butler's ephemeral artworks are made from plastic bags. PHOTO / SUPPLIED
Work from another 20 mainly Hokianga artists will range from photography and furniture to ceramics and weaving. Part of the gallery is being converted into a bazaar complete with Turkish kilims (a type of rug) on the walls.
The opening will be at 11am on December 17. In an "event within an event" art critic and author Anthony Byrt will talk about his new book, This Model World - Travels to the Edge of Contemporary Art at 4pm on December 30. The exhibition will run until February 12 and be open daily from 10am-4pm.
Kindy's art fundraiser
A series of original artworks, all created on postcard-sized pieces of plywood, are being auctioned off in a fundraiser for Kerikeri Kindergarten.
The diminutive works are on display in the pop-up gallery next to Curves Gym, in the car park behind Westpac Bank in Kerikeri. They are being sold by silent auction with bids closing at 3pm this Friday, December 16.
The gallery is open from 10am-4pm. If you can't check out the works in person you can take a look at the Facebook page 'Kerikeri Kindergarten Plywood Silent Art Auction'.
Kawakawa winners
The schools section of this year's Kawakawa Christmas parade was won by Bay of Islands College for a Kiwi backyard Christmas float in which students took the place of mannequins in a static display, frozen in poses of backyard cricket, cooking on the barbecue and opening presents.
Bay of Islands College won the schools section of this year's Kawakawa Christmas parade for a Kiwi backyard Christmas float. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF
The full list of winners is ... Schools: 1 Bay of Islands College, 2 Kawakawa Primary School, 3 Te Mirumiru Early Childhood Education Centre. Community: 1 Te Huarahi Church, 2 Kawakawa Team Roping (horses), 3 Kawakawa Fire Brigade. Business: 1 DDF Dance Studio, 2 Ngati Hine FM. This year's judges were Far North District Councillor Willow-Jean Prime and Kawakawa GP Ian Hoffer. To see the full photo gallery click here.
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