'Bigger and better' carnival is on way

The Waipu Carnival has become so popular organisers have put extra measures in place to meet the demand. Photo / John Stone

Throwing balls at coconuts, lawn-mower races, ponies and food have attracted a big crowd to the Waipu Carnival and organisers are working hard to meet the demand.

Saturday's annual carnival is filled with food tents, activities and auctions and has become "bigger and better" each year, says carnival crew member Angela Amsterdam.

She said the carnival, which is in its sixth year, was so popular last year that some events had to be closed down.

"The lawn-mower racing attracted a massive crowd. It got so big it became unsafe, so we had to shut it down earlier.

"People were upset about that. We also are aware people were complaining about the queues."

Ms Amsterdam said 5000 people were expected at this year's carnival.

"We've talked to the Caledonian Society and about 5000 people attended their [Waipu Highland Games] and, assuming it's as big as that, we expect around 5000 if the weather is good," she said.

This year, the carnival crew had worked hard to accommodate the large crowd by introducing extra ticketing booths and safety precautions for the lawn-mower races.

The event, which is a school fundraiser for Waipu Primary School, had expanded to be a must-attend event, Ms Amsterdam said.

"It's still a fundraiser but we get people coming up from Auckland to attend the event. It's a great atmosphere."

The carnival is suited for all ages, with a range of events such as bouncy castles, merry-go-rounds, fritters, hotdogs and more.

"It's for preschoolers teenagers and grannies - there really is something for everyone."

New attractions this year include a land zorb and track, a photo booth and a coconut shy - a game consisting of throwing wooden balls at a row of coconuts balanced on posts.

- Waipu Carnival, 9am-2pm, Caledonian Park, The Centre, Waipu, Bream Bay