Families flock to Children's Day

Rotorua's children have enjoyed a day filled with activities around the city as part of Children's Day celebrations.

The day was celebrated in Rotorua with at least three different events including free activities at the Rotorua Museum and the Redwoods.

Ahina Kingi, 9, went to the Redwoods yesterday with her siblings Violet Wilson, 4 and Te Ari Wilson, 1, and took part in clay painting, yoga and more. There were separate stations at the Redwoods with different activities for children. Families flocked to the event with children of all ages being entertained .

Ahina said her favourite part was the clay painting, and she wished the celebrations were held every Sunday.

Children were able to enjoy storytelling, construct forest huts and make pine cone bird feeders.

At the museum there was a range of activities, including tours and an art table where children designed masks of mythical characters.

Children's Day was also celebrated at Rainbow Springs. National organisations Footsteps and Fostering Kids, with local Foster Care Support Associations, sponsored a trip there for more than 200 children and carer families.

The event aimed to provide a memorable experience for the families and raise awareness of how the organisations can support them. Activities included a bird show, big splash rides, whanau portraits and a giant hand-painting.

Rainbow Springs part-sponsored the event as a way of giving back to the community.

Lynne Matthews, Central North Coordinator for Fostering Kids, said her organisation aimed to give children in foster care a stable, loving home by providing support and training to foster carers and their families.

"We are really excited to be working with Footsteps and Rainbow Springs to provide a fun day out that our families will remember forever."