Halloween plans in the Bay of Plenty affected by Covid-19

Kerry Bollen of NE Events has teamed up with sponsors Downtown Tauranga to host the inaugural Halloween Trick or Treat Trail in the Tauranga city centre. Photo / George Novak

Halloween in the Bay was shaping up to be one of the best yet, but Covid alert level 2 has seen kids' events cancelled or scaled back, leaving promoters and party-goers disappointed.

Covid restrictions forced Pop Up Events owner Tiny Murphy to cancel two major Halloween events this week.

Murphy said it was "gutting" to cancel the inaugural Kids' Scary Haunted House Party planned for tomorrow afternoon, all the proceeds from which would have gone to kids' charities Miller's Movement and the Life Education Trust.

The event, expected to attract about 200 kids, was to be followed by an adults' Halloween House Party at night – also at Totara St venue in Mount Maunganui, which does not operate in level 2.

Murphy also cancelled a 70s "Disco Fever" event at the same venue earlier in the month.

The uncertainty of alert levels was the hardest part for pro motors, he said.

"It's the waiting that's the killer. The angst of whether it will go through or not," he said.

Murphy had spent money on Instagram and Facebook adverts, fliers, posters, and graphic design as well as deposits on equipment. He also has a storeroom full of animated and static props – flying bats and swinging skeletons which will all have to wait until next year.

The Merivale Community Centre became the lucky recipients of the 23kg of lollies he had purchased for the kids' event.

Despite the challenges, Murphy, who started Pop Up Events in 2012, remained optimistic.

"You sort of expect these things, you take the good with the bad," he said.

Owner of events company NE Events, Kerry Bollen, teamed up with sponsors Downtown Tauranga to host the inaugural Halloween Trick or Treat Trail in the Tauranga city centre.

Tickets to the free event, of which only 200 could be released, were snapped up in eight minutes, Bowen said.

Originally designed as a Halloween Party in the Wharf St dining precinct, the event was changed to a trail to avoid any gathering of large groups.

Kerry Bollen of NE Events. Photo / George Novak

"I'm one of the very lucky people that has been able to adapt an event to run," Bollen said.

Still, there were a lot of disappointed kids who missed out on tickets and Bollen was expecting to meet a few sad ghosts and witches on Sunday.

Generally, parents whose children missed out were understanding and supportive, encouraging events like it.

"People were stoked that someone was doing something in the CBD," Bollen said.

If level 2 or similar restrictions remained until Christmas, she will consider hosting a similar Christmas-themed trail.

The treasure hunt sends bubble groups around the CBD, solving 12 Halloween riddles along the way. Participants need to spell out a mystery word to go into the draw to win spot prizes.

In Rotorua, Secret Spot co-owner Eric Klover spent Wednesday afternoon carving out jack-o-lanterns to sit next to each of the hot pools on Saturday and Sunday night.

Secret Spot co-owner Eric Kolver. Photo / Andrew Warner

The surrounding bush will also be lit with red for the occasion "so it's a little bit spooky", said Klover.

"Most of the staff will be dressed up so we'll just have a bit of fun."

Children are also welcome to come and toast marshmallows on a campfire.

A Light Party is also going ahead at Tauranga's Salvation Army Corps in 5th Ave but will be limited to 100 guests, with preference given to the church families and children from the Salvation Army's transitional housing.

Major Denise Crump said the light party involved prizes for best dressed, crafts, a dance-off, bouncy castle and games.

"It's an alternative to Halloween so instead of scary stuff we're thinking about the light of God," she said.

The party aimed to create a safe alternative to trick-or-treating.

"As a church we don't hold to the values of Halloween," Crump said.