City centre stores welcome Christmas trees

It’s beginning to look a bit like . . . looking all joyful and triumphant, Santa’s helper, aka Ken Huberts, with this year’s decorated Christmas trees before he and Dave Conway set off to distribute them throughout the city centre. Ken has introduced a similar scheme in Te Awamutu where he now lives. Picture by Liam Clayton

Christmas has arrived in the CBD.

Santa’s helper Ken Huberts, in his 10th year of working with the district’s younger students, has distributed 60 of their decorated trees to city centre businesses and some in side streets.

“It’s one thing putting up a tree on its own, it’s another having multiple trees decorated and all telling a different story,” said Mr Huberts.

“The trees attract people into the CBD.”

“As soon as the first trees arrive in town, other retailers ring and ask for theirs.

“The retailers were very excited when they received their tree.

“The town looks great.”

Mr Huberts, who has recently moved to Te Awamutu, has introduced a similar project there, but has not forgotten Gisborne.

The Christmas trees are made of medium density fibre board (MDF) sheets which are computer-cut at Awapuni Joinery.

Department of Corrections clients prime the trees and Gisborne Resene provides the paint.

But the trees are primarily about the children, aged three to 12, at 26 schools from Wainui to Te Karaka and all points in between.

The children paint and decorate the trees working on the theme of What Christmas Means to Me.

“We get paintings of everything from Jesus in a manger to jandals, the beach and the barbie,” said Mr Huberts.

The trees show a range of colours, materials and complexity, and are getting more elaborate each year.

A tree from Te Hapara School features battery-powered lights .

“You would think it would taper off after 10 years, but it hasn’t,” said assistant Santa helper Dave Conway.

“The students show their excitement as soon as the MDF sheets arrive at school for them to work on.”

Gisborne Department of Corrections manager Michelle Tichborne-Hailey said the project was worthwhile for her clients.

“The project continues to empower those people in our care who have not previously had the opportunity to involve themselves in something that injects a positive uplifting in the community.

“It has allowed many of our younger attendees to show they are able to focus, stay on task and successfully complete a project.”

Mr Huberts originally introduced the Christmas tree project when he was the Heart of Gisborne manager.

His contract with Gisborne District Council also includes the installation of the large Christmas tree atop the veranda of  the building on the corner of Peel Street and Gladstone Road, with help from CR Taylor Ltd.