Hundreds of cardboard children will tag along with Tauranga business people, councillors, teacher and doctors today to mark this year's Buddy Day.
The day was launched with a breakfast at the city's waterfront, where councillor Matt Cowley met his buddy for the day Skye Marie Poppins, 12.
"She's an incredibly active 12-year-old girl. She loves gymnastics, going to school and dressing up," Mr Cowley said.
"That's why she's in a Halloween costume today. She's dressed in a suit because we do't discriminate against other kids on what they want to dress up in."
Mr Cowley said Skye wanted to dress up especially today because the date was Friday the 13th.
Skye was accompany Mr Cowley to several meetings he's involved with today, including the first at 9am and the launch of Start Up weekend tonight.
"It's going to be a long day for us," he said.
Chiefs hooker Nathan Harris visited Mount Maunganui Intermediate last month where he picked up his buddy Blake that the students had made for him to adopt ahead of Buddy Day.