Photos: Kaikohe's dazzling festival of light

Reporter·Northern Advocate·

2 Jul, 2020 09:25 PM2 mins to read

Five-year-old Tame Tango-Cooper, of Kaikohe, turned himself into a glow-in-the-dark work of art. Photo / Peter de Graaf

More than 2000 people turned out to take part in a feast of light, colour and community creativity in Kaikohe.

Bling Bling Toi Marama was organised by Ākau Design Studio and Te Pū o Te Wheke Arts with light sculptures made by community members and children from nine schools, kura kaupapa and preschools in Kaikohe, Ōkaihau and Moerewa.

The show, which ran from 6pm-9pm from Thursday until Saturday, was held at Te Pū o Te Wheke gallery on Broadway and the old Kaikohe Hotel site.

It was the first time the hotel site, which is now grassed over and owned by Ngāpuhi, had been opened up for a public event.

The official number of people that attended the event was 2172. According to Census data that's well over half the entire population of Kaikohe. The highlight was Te Ana Mārama (The Light Cave), a fantastical, glow-in-the-dark underwater world constructed on the hotel site with plenty of opportunities for the kids to indulge in hands-on fluorescent creativity.

On Thursday, the quietest of the three nights, the queue to get into the cave stretched a full block down Broadway.

The event was the brainchild of Ākau junior designer Manawanui Ururoa, 23, of Rawene, and doubled as a celebration of the Matariki, the Māori New Year.

Sasha Wilson, of Te Pū o Te Wheke Arts, said the light sculptures had been made by local artists, schoolchildren and people with experience of mental illness.

''It's been a great experience for them. It was a chance for the kids to see what they can create. I'm sure they'll be so proud of themselves.''