Two remembrance trees are waiting to be decorated for those wanting to hang a star for loved ones lost or who would not be home this Christmas - with the act helping to raise money and awareness for a special cause.
For the third year, Waipuna Hospice has teamed up
with Farmers Tauranga and Bayfair to place a remembrance tree in each of their stores.
Shoppers could purchase a Christmas bauble then write a short note on an ornamental card, which they could then hang in one of the two trees in the Tauranga stores.
Waipuna Hospice fundraising manager Trish Rea said annually they had to raise $2.6m to keep the organisation running. The two stores raised $28,000 in the lead up to Christmas. This year she hoped to raise $30,000 from the Farmers Tree of Remembrance Appeal.
The baubles cost $10 each and were designed by Hayley King from Flox.