Sick children inspire Christmas cheer

Emma Biggs and son Tane Biggs, 2. Photo/George Novak

It is not often Christmas baubles would have a rocket ship, shooting stars and solar systems painted on them - but these decorations will be special ones.

Sick children and teens at Tauranga Hospital have painted baubles to be featured on community Christmas trees as part of Tauranga City Council and The Incubator Creative Hub's latest project.

The 12 days of Christmas tree project invited more than 20 Tauranga community groups to paint baubles for 12 double-sided wooden trees which will be erected on the Tauranga Waterfront and Red Square.

The Incubator Creative Hub's Simone Anderson said the children at Tauranga Hospital were one of the final groups facilitated to paint baubles for the trees.

"It is a community Christmas tree that will reflect the breadth of the community," she said.

"One of our missions at the Incubator is to connect people through creative arts. It is a great way to create well-being."

Six trees will be erected on the Tauranga Waterfront and another six trees at Red Square. "Hopefully they will be up in time for the Santa Parade on December 2," Anderson said.

Anderson said the baubles, paint and paintbrushes were delivered to each community group who were each allocated a different theme.

She said nurses, doctors, patients and parents arrived at Tauranga Hospital's children ward to help paint during the day.

"It does not surprise me because I know how people want to be engaged with art, but when you create an opportunity, people start to swarm around it."

Hospital patient Hailey Trappitt, 16, painted her baubles with different planets and a galaxy.

"It is quite cool to play a little part in something that is hopefully going to look really amazing and be very Christmassy."