Pato Alvarez of Pato Entertainment dressed as Hana Koko for the Santa Carrus Christmas Party. Photo / Esme O'Rafferty
Pato Alvarez of Pato Entertainment dressed as Hana Koko for the Santa Carrus Christmas Party. Photo / Esme O'Rafferty
Hana Koko visited Mount Maunganui this afternoon under the blazing summer sunshine, at a Christmas party for families in need.
The event, held at the campground next to the Mount Maunganui Hot Pools, was organised by Te Tuinga Whānau, a support services trust based in Greerton.
Tommy Wilson, the "chiefimagination officer" of Te Tuinga Whānau, said the event had been running annually for seven years.
"We call it Santa Carrus Christmas Party because Carrus has supported us every year ... our patrons are Sir Paul and Cheryl Adams," he said.
'It's about bringing joy to the 60-odd families that we look after ... so the mums, dads, kids come here and it's just a special day."
Events held at the party included a bouncy castle, harakeke weaving, face painting and making Christmas cards and decorations.
There was also lots of kai; a sausage sizzle with hot dogs and burgers, and all the trimmings - coleslaw, salad, ketchup and cake for dessert.
Then, after the food, all the kids lined up as Hana Koko - better known as Hana Pato, or Pato Alvarez of One Love and Bay Dreams fame - handed out presents.
Alvarez said this was the first year he'd become involved with the event, after being put in touch with Te Tuinga Whānau through his assistant.
Pato Alvarez of Pato Entertainment dressed as Hana Koko for the Santa Carrus Christmas Party. Photo / Esme O'Rafferty
"We're always looking for charities to help and support, especially with kids around the time of year," he said.
"Three or four weeks ago I said to Shekira (his assistant) 'I want to give back more at Christmas' and she found these amazing people who were putting this together."
Piles of presents under the Christmas tree waiting for Hana Koko. Photo / Esme O'Rafferty
Fourteen-year-old Cortez Tata said she enjoyed the day.
"Seeing everyone enjoy themselves and having a good day, that was my favourite part ... just seeing everyone totally happy," she said.
Her cousin Shquana Tata agreed and added that she also enjoyed making slime.
Although both girls said they were "a little too old" for Hana Koko, they were pleased with the gifts they received today - body creams and lip balms.
As well as a gift for each child, every family who attended the Christmas party left with a bag full of food.
Bags of food for the families who attended the Christmas party, hosted by the Carrus Corporation and Te Tuinga Whānau. Photo / Esme O'Rafferty
Volunteers Aroha Kapi and Tina Parata, volunteers with Te Tuinga Whānau, were teaching harakeke weaving throughout the day.
"I've really enjoyed people sitting down on the mat and walking away with something that they treasure - they're walking away with a new bit of knowledge ... a bit of tikanga Māori," Kapi said.
"Harakeke is easily accessible to people and it's something they can go and explore over the summer holidays.
"It's just been really fun teaching somebody a new skill, that they can go and teach somebody else," she said.
Parata said the harakeke weaving was about passing on Māori traditions and ancestral knowledge.
"Part of our ancestral way of living was that we don't secretly hold on to knowledge - you teach it, that's how it stays alive," she said.
Wilson said the event went really well.
"Everyone got covered in happiness ... how wonderful that we can just share joy," he said.
"More love, more laughter for the New Year - today was a snapshot of that, so let's just keep on sharing love and laughter."
