"This gives them an opportunity to feel special and normalise Christmas."
It was a whakamā (embarrassment)-free day for these families that struggled, he said.
He said 100 presents were gifted to the children of families in need.
One Love festival director Pato Alvarez had picked the presents, bought them and wrapped them with his team, along with bringing them to the Christmas party to hand out.
The event had other fun activities and action going on, including free haircuts, free face painting, a movie theatre, continuous kai, free drinks from Good Buzz, a bouncy castle, making personalised Christmas cards and dress-up Santa Claus.
"Today is a day where they can just be happy, and if there is one thing we've learned this year, it's that kindness can go a long way. It's an amazing currency.
"It's been an outstanding success and as staff members, we get to celebrate their happiness, and that is a cool feeling.
"We get to change lives."
