Arohanui for Kaikoura from Otago

For immediate release, 25 November, 2016

Otago Polytechnic School of Social Services is determined to give the children of Kaikoura a fantastic Christmas this year.

‘Arohanui from Otago’ is a gift collection project. Residents from around Otago are encouraged to bring new, small, wrapped gifts, marked with age-suitability and gender, into Otago Polytechnic where they’ll be sorted and transported to Kaikoura for Christmas.

Erin Marlow, School of Social Services Operations Coordinator, says Christmas could be a particularly difficult time for families in Kaikoura.

“As well as the uncertainty and anxiety with aftershocks, there are limited options for parents to get their children gifts. Many of the shops are closed in Kaikoura, and at this stage, there’s no way for locals to get out of the area. We hope this gesture will bring a smile onto the children’s faces this Christmas” she says.

Miss Marlow says the project is certainly a challenging one. “NZ Post has very kindly offered to help get the gifts from Dunedin to Christchurch for us, but we are still working on ways to get them into Kaikoura. We’re determined though, and I know we’ll find a way. Kaikoura’s Takahanga Marae has kindly offered to distribute the gifts. It’s amazing how everyone is eager to help”.

“The School of Social Services is all about helping and caring for people. We had to do something for the people of Kaikoura to show them that Otago, and the rest of New Zealand, cares” says Miss Marlow.

Otago Polytechnic Carpentry students are the first to donate – 60 flat-packed bird feeders that the children can make up themselves. Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4) student, Sam Evans, was very keen to help. “I reckon it’s great. I’m from Marlborough, so not far away. This’ll help the parents out heaps” he says.

The public can drop gifts off to the Christmas tree at The Otago Polytechnic Hub on Forth Street on weekdays from 8am-5pm. The last day of collection will be Friday 16 December.

Bullet point details:
· Title: Arohanui from Otago
· Organised by: Otago Polytechnic School of Social Services
· Why: Christmas gifts from Kaikoura kids to show Otago cares
· What: Small, new gifts, wrapped with gender (if applicable) and age-range marked on them
· Where: The Christmas tree, Otago Polytechnic Hub, Forth Street
· When: Weekdays 8am-5pm until 16/12/16.

ends

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