Chuffed Gifts team Jess (left), Alex, James, Holly and Todd with Maverick (9) and Andrea Atkinson (front centre). Photo / Kaitlyn Morrell
When Andrea Atkinson moved into her new home, she pictured her first Christmas there glowing with festive lights.
But one slip off a ladder threatened to pull the plug on her seven-year-long tradition – until a Tauranga crew with a gift for gifting stepped in to deliver some Christmas magic.
Now her house is glowing, and so is she, overwhelmed by how others were “happy to help out of the goodness of their own hearts”.
A team of five from Chuffed Gifts made Atkinson’s Christmas vision a reality by stapling lights, securing inflatable decorations on her purposebuilt carport, and decking out the entire front yard.
Her decorated house will again be a part of the annual Bower Christmas Lights Trail, where 51 houses across Tauranga and the Western Bay have been lit up with festive cheer.
The real estate company has teamed up with The Hits Bay of Plenty 95.0FM, Tauranga Crossing and Chuffed Gifts for this year’s trail, which is open now.
Atkinson told the Bay of Plenty Times she was “really overwhelmed” and “quite emotional” when she received the call that her Christmas lights would be put up for her.
“I love doing it every year, love the feeling of it, you see all the lights and the decorations, and it’s just such a happy time.”
Atkinson said she had been painting her newly-built carport in preparation for Christmas when she fell off a ladder, rupturing her ACL and tearing her MCL ligaments.
“I was so bummed out that I wasn’t going to be able to [decorate the house] this year, and it was such a down, to then such a high getting a phone call offering this.”
She watched from afar with her 9-year-old son, Maverick, as the Chuffed Gifts team worked hard to make her Christmas dream a reality.
“To have people come in and do this for me is so meaningful, and it hits deep because people are so happy to help out of the goodness of their own hearts.”
Chuffed Gifts co-founder Alex Howard said the decorating experience was in the spirit of Christmas.
The gifting service works with a network of providers who collectively offer more than 1000 experiences across New Zealand.
“We’re all about gifting experiences, and Christmas is a big time for that.”
He said it was important to help out fellow Kiwis, have fun and celebrate the season.
“Andrea’s really passionate about being involved in this, and it sucks that she couldn’t do it.”
Howard said the team were more than happy to help out and take her directions.
“I don’t think any of us are professional Christmas decoration setter-uppers, but we’re stoked to be involved and give back.”
This is the fifth year Bower Real Estate (previously Tremains) has sponsored the Christmas Light Trail in Tauranga and Western Bay.
Bower managing director Anton Jones said it meant a lot to the company that it could help bring “a little joy” to Tauranga.
“There’s something about it that just makes you feel happy.
“It’s great to be able to see children and parents alike able to have some fun and see people smiling and connecting, especially with the modern stresses of life.”
The lights are on nightly until at least 9pm, and viewers can vote for their favourite homes on thehits.co.nz until December 22.
Bower and The Hits will also host two events in Christmas light hotspots with a free barbecue, ice blocks and lollies for the kids, as well as face painting, games and more.
These will be held from 7pm in Pāpāmoa East’s Wairakei Ave on December 11 and Matepu Cres in the Lakes on December 12.
Paengaroa
Te Puke
Pāpāmoa
Mount Maunganui
Welcome Bay
Hairini
Maungatapu
Ohauiti
Greerton
Ōtūmoetai
Bellevue
Matua
Pyes Pa
Athenree
Katikati
Ōmokoroa
Waihi
Kaimai
Kaitlyn Morrell is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.