The first of Kaitaia's 2013 Daffodil Day babies had their photos taken at Bubba's Baby Store in Kaitaia on Tuesday, with eight more booked in for today and more on Friday.
Bubba's proprietor Krystal-Rose Taaffe, who stepped into the breach when the National Bank (now ANZ) in Kaitaia decided todiscontinue the competition staff founded two decades ago as a hugely successful fundraiser for the Cancer Society, said the response had been phenomenal.
She only made her plans public last week, but babies were coming through the door as she had known they would, the local business community was supporting the cause generously by way of contributing to the prizes, and as of Tuesday afternoon the first votes had been received.
The format is the same as that used by the bank staff, the competition comprising three age groups (birth to six months, six to 12 months and 12 months to three years), every $1 vote going to Kaitaia's Far North Hospice (along with $5 of the $15 entry fee).
The last photos would be taken on Friday August 30, Krystal said, and the final batch will be published in the Age on Thursday September 5. Voting (at Bubba's, where the photos will be displayed), will finish the next day.
The photos, every one of which will be published in the Age, will be taken by Rachel Foster at Bubba's, on the corner of Commerce and Taaffe streets, with the appointments being made as babies are registered.
