Christmas has Arrived in Central Hawke's Bay!

The Christmas spirit is set to be alive and well in Central Hawke’s Bay with free activities and late-night shopping on offer this December. 
 
Mayor Alex Walker said after another uncertain and tough year for many, it was important Central Hawke’s Bay closed out the year with some cheer. 
 
“Despite previous plans being reined in due to COVID-19 restrictions, Central Hawke’s Bay District Council has been developing a safe solution where our community can still experience the joy of Christmas while supporting local businesses.” 
 
Kicking off the month of festivities, the popular Christmas Tree will be returning to the Greenpatch, Ruataniwha Street, Waipukurau from 1 December.
 
Locals are encouraged to get creative and decorate their own wooden ornaments to hang on the tree. The blank ornaments can be collected from Te Huinga Wai – Knowledge and Learning Hub in Waipukurau from 1 December and can be decorated with supplies provided at the Hub or taken home to complete.  
 
Due to safety requirements, the finished decorations need to be returned to Te Huinga Wai and will then be placed on the tree by Council staff. 
 
Talented local artist, Jaine Hason, will once again be painting amazing wooden Christmas Trees on the Greenpatch, with Central Hawke’s Bay College students also adding to the colourful and unique Christmas collection. 
 
Christmas Windows are set to bring sparkle to Waipukurau and Waipawa from 6 December onwards. Each shop involved will have official entry posters with QR codes that voters can scan and then choose their favourite window to win. New World Waipukurau are kindly sponsoring this year's prizes, providing vouchers for those that take out first and second place. 
 
A great opportunity to show support and back local businesses, late-night shopping will also return mid-December. CHB Mail will be publishing more information – shopping hours, businesses involved and promotions – in the coming weeks. 
 
“I really want to encourage our Central Hawke’s Bay community to rally friends and whānau together and get out there to enjoy what’s on offer in our awesome district – let’s support local this Christmas,” says Mayor Walker. 
 
For full information including Christmas promotions, visit the Council website at www.chbdc.govt.nz. Keep up-to-date with the latest Christmas buzz on Council’s Facebook page, @chbdistrictcouncil. 
 
Central Hawke’s Bay District Council would like to thank the following people and businesses for their contribution to designing, making, and setting up the Christmas tree – Waipukurau Arts & Crafts, Tom Henderson, Steve Walker from CHB Engineering, Recreational Services, Centralines, Sloans. Mt Herbert, Woburn, Age Concern, Waiapu Abbotsford Daycare, Pakeke and Paul Hunter Centre for creating the decorations and Shelly Birdsall for her assistance alongside the Council working group.  
 

2 December 2021

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