Hula busker adds colour, zest to basin

Charlie Ledger, 32, is originally from England but is making a home in Whangarei while entertaining the locals with her hula hoops. Photo / Michael Cunningham

With bright pink hair, matching hula hoops and a thick English accent Charlie Ledger is hard to miss.

The 32-year-old, originally from England, has been busking in Whangarei for the past two weeks.

The seasoned performer, who did three months at a circus school in 2009, has spent much of her time at the Town Basin showing off her tricks.

Not only does she use four hoops at a time, she also has a type of hoop called a Cyr Wheel which is so large she gets inside it and spins around.

Ms Ledger said she had been getting "good vibes" since arriving in Whangarei.

"It's been really nice," she said. "I've even had letters put in my hat saying 'you're amazing'."

She moved to New Zealand in February and joined Circus Kumarani in Dargaville as a volunteer before moving to Whangarei where she is now staying with a friend.

The money is not quite as good busking here as in England but it is enough to get by, Ms Ledger said.

"Some days I do well but it depends on the weather a lot."

After starting hula hooping eight years ago she fell in love with the sport and eventually made a business out of it.

"I couldn't get a hoop first of all except for the kids' plastic things which are too light and too small," Ms Ledger said. "I started making hoops and teaching it as a fitness thing in gyms."

While she was originally scared of performing for crowds now she enjoys showing people something unique they may not see otherwise.

"I've had a lot of people come up to me and say 'thanks for entertaining my kids'."

She plans to stay in Whangarei and use it as a base for other adventures in New Zealand.

Many people are already keen to learn hula hooping and Ms Ledger has started approaching gyms to offer classes.

However, her focus is to start a social enterprise called Serendipity Circus to encourage disadvantaged young people to learn circus arts.

"I have been through a lot in my life and circus has helped me," she said.