Letterboxes show festive flair

The residents of Ohaeawai, 10km east of Kaikohe, have turned their letterboxes into roadside tributes to Christmas spirit. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF

What do you do if you want your town to look festive but decorating your main street with Christmas lights costs too much?

Ohaeawai's answer was to persuade its townsfolk to turn their letterboxes into Christmas-themed works of art.

Many letterboxes in the small mid-north town, about 10km east of Kaikohe, are now festooned with tinsel, baubles and reindeer.

Several have life-size Santas and solar-powered lights; one has been transformed into a giant Christmas tree.

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The competition was organised by the Ohaeawai Taiamai Residents Association, whose chairwoman Tracey Albert said the initial idea was to decorate the town with lights but the cost was prohibitive.

"We wanted to celebrate Christmas and get a bit creative," she said.

First to take up the challenge was kaumatua Tappy Anderson. The contest snowballed from there, she said.

Sixteen-year-old Jacqui Tane turned her family letterbox into a tinsel snowman with an upturned kete for a hat.

Ironically the biggest challenge was working by the roadside in searing heat.

"I reckon it's cool. Everyone got involved," she said.

The entries were judged by local posties Doug and Karen McKenzie with prizes awarded for most creative, most colourful, group effort and postie's choice.

The overall winner was Beauty Barn on State Highway 1 for its chalet-style letterbox and Santa stuck up a tree.