Whanganui East’s Williams Domain hosts hundreds for annual Christmas party

The park's basketball court was painted just in time for the party. Photo / Mike Tweed

People poured into Whanganui’s Williams Domain for a free Christmas party, with a freshly painted basketball court unveiled during the event.

It was the third time the Free Community Christmas event has been held, and organiser Marie Butturini said there were “definitely a couple hundred extra people” this year.

Butturini is manager of Live and Learn Childcare and founder of the Hakeke Street Community Centre and Library, both across the road from the domain.

“The beautiful thing about this event is it’s actually funded by the community,” she said. “We put sponsorship forms out and people donated anywhere from $6 to $400.”

As well as basketball, punters were treated to a bouncy castle, an inflatable obstacle course, pony rides, live music, face painting and a talent quest. Santa, Mickey Mouse and Star Wars stormtroopers also visited.

“The kaupapa that underpins Hakeke St is that it’s about working collaboratively – being stronger together,” Butturini said.

“That event shows it. This is not just for Whanganui East, either; people come from all over Whanganui, and even out of town.

“Some of our volunteers even came down from Waikato.”

Butturini said the Rapid Relief Team was on hand to cook about 650 free burgers.

“If you put a monetary number on it, they are probably the biggest supporter we have,” she said. “I’m not sure how much it costs to make that many burgers, but I’d imagine it’s quite a lot.”

Earlier this year, Sport Whanganui installed a half basketball court at the park and the Whanganui Football Charitable Trust built a fence around the perimeter to protect the grass from burnouts. The orchard at the Maketu St end of the domain is looked after by volunteers. Artist Mike Marsh added a multi-coloured design to the court just before last weekend’s party.

Butterini said the next task was organising the community centre’s annual shoebox appeal, which would result in 450 gifts being given to children for Christmas.

“We ask people to donate to either [the party or appeal], pull the money together and do as much as we can.

“I just love it. I love how much the community gets on board.”

She said the party would return next year: “We’re hooked into it now.”

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present, his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.