Celebrating National Children's Day

22 February 2007 Media release

More than 500 events registered to celebrate National Children’s Day

Oamaru Mayor Alan McLay will be taking children on a mystery tour on a red double-decker bus to celebrate National Children’s Day on Sunday 4 March. This is just one of the more than 500 events registered on the Children’s Day website.

Events of all sizes are still being registered every day, with locations ranging from remote New Zealand towns to big city events.

“Some groups have really got creative and thought up their own special ways to celebrate the day and promote the theme of giving time,” says National Project Manager Children’s Day Esther Wallace. “We’ve even had family groups registering their own picnics and activities, which really encapsulates the spirit of the day.”

Schools all over the country are organising their own celebrations, both public and private. Oruaiti School in Mangonui, Northland will be releasing helium balloons to send messages to other children all over New Zealand.
Marfell Community School in Taranaki is having a ‘Marfell Go Mad’ celebration, with local scouts organising obstacle courses for three different age groups, music, games, storytellers and competitions. The school has even set up their own website to promote the event.

Some schools have come up with interesting private events. St Patrick's Catholic School in Taupo will be planting a tree in their school grounds to celebrate Children’s Day.

Napier Central School will be weaving a korowai cloak, adding feathers that illustrate the special, unique things about the individual children in the class.

Bayview Kindergarten in Glenfield, Auckland is going on a bush walk to a 300 year old kauri, where they will have a special morning tea picnic.

The ethnic community in Dinsdale are holding a Children's Ethnic Soccer Festival, with children's cultural performances, and food stalls.

Children on Waiheke Island will be able to hear fabulous stories from the oceans deep and make their own sea creatures for a 'Mermaid Parade' to Oneroa Beach.

Pool and seaside events are a strong feature this year as the theme indigenous animal in 2007 is the Hector’s dolphin. Some regions where Hector’s dolphins swim such as Canterbury are even offering discount rate dolphin tours, and the National Aquarium in Napier is offering free entry to any child accompanied by an adult.

Auckland Zoo will teach people about the plight of the Hector’s Dolphin at their event and in keeping with the National Children's Day theme of 'giving time', they are encouraging parents and caregivers to spend time with their children at the zoo by getting involved with some fun games, including water-based activities, as well as viewing the zoo animals at night.

Auckland Zoo expects to attract up to 5,000 people, and some other Children’s Day events are also expected to be huge, including Palmerston North, where celebrations will take over the Town Square, beginning with a parade of ‘Children of the World’ wearing their national costumes, celebrations at Auckland Museum, a Teddy Bears Picnic and Fishing Carnival in Porirua, Toddlers Day Out and Great Parenting Fair in Waitakere City and a golf coaching and pool party in Kawerau.

ENDS

© Scoop Media