KIT Daniels sewrves Kai with from right; Dallas tutaki, Ngahere Cressy, Sas Marie Hepi, Tuapokere Cressy, Zoe Henry and Syrus Gilbert. Photo supplied.
SANTA came to Benneydale/Maniaiti on December 9 for a big community Christmas function.
Tamariki came along from the village, plus others from around Pureora, Waimiha, Mangaokewa and Mangapeehi: 100 all up.
After a karakia, there was a barbecue lunch, before a visit from Santa.
The big thing was the games.
Children blinged up biscuits until they sparkled and played “guess the reindeer,” and “gift grab: like musical chairs, but with prizes.”
Teams of five chose a person to dress up as a Christmas tree. And there was also a bouncy castle.
Locals Barry and Erika Batley provided DJ services.
“They are such awesome entertainers. We love having our local people,” said spokesperson local teacher and mum, Lynnie Poki.
And if tamariki couldn’t make it? Santa dropped off presents at their houses later.
Lynnie, one of the event’s organisers, said it had only recently “come back to life.”
The revitalisation was the brainchild of local Angela Davis.
A few years ago, the two were “pondering outside the library,” when the latter had an idea for the community.
“Wouldn’t it be nice to bring back what we used to have back in the days in Bennydale?”
“What are you talking about, Auntie?” Lynnie asked.
“We used to always do a big Christmas.”
“She called us all in together (together with Chris Lennox, Kit Daniels and Kayla Gilbert) and we started to recreate what they had in the past.”
2023 was the third year of the new-old Benneydale Christmas Function.
During Covid, the event kept going with social distancing and other Covid protocol measures, because many families were struggling and needed a boost.
“I want to put out there too, a big thank you to all our sponsors too because we couldn’t have done this without them,” Lynnie said.
