Some of the lights on display at the home of the supreme winner for the inaugural Whakapiataata Te Karaka Christmas Lights competition. Photo / James Pocock
Some of the lights on display at the home of the supreme winner for the inaugural Whakapiataata Te Karaka Christmas Lights competition. Photo / James Pocock
A community-led Christmas lights competition has “blessed and uplifted” the small East Coast township of Te Karaka.
Longtime residents of Te Karaka say Christmas lights on this scale are a first for most.
The inaugural Whakapiataata Te Karaka Christmas Lights competition was set up by Hannah Jenkin-Baty and Kylie LawsonWallace.
Jenkin-Baty and Stacy Coffey ran the event, which had three categories: best feature (tree, fence, garden ornament), best building and best Christian nativity scene.
One entry blew the judges away so much that they added a supreme winner category.
The home of John Hovell features a sleigh made by a carpenter, light-up inflatables of Santa, reindeer and even a festive hot tub, complementing the impressive fairy light setup adorning the front yard and house.
Te Karaka resident John Hovell has been putting up Christmas lights at his whare for about five years. His home was the supreme winner of the competition. Photo / James Pocock
Hovell, the very picture of Mr Claus himself, said he had lived in Te Karaka for about 10 years, and the lights were something his household had done for about four or five years.
All you needed were “lights and a little bit of imagination”.
Te Karaka Christmas lights in John Hovell's front yard. Photo / James Pocock
He originally intended to use the sleigh, built with wheels, in a Christmas parade.
“We’ve made it with seats and everything. People can sit in it; we’ve had people come and take photos with kids in there.”
Hovell said what he had out on display when the Gisborne Herald visited was not all the decorations he had. He mentioned a laser light and at least eight other inflatable decorations still inside the house.
“We’re going up the East Coast after Christmas, so we’ve got to get rid of all this before we go. Although it is not too bad – you just get a shopping bag each and go around rolling it up carefully.”
Monique and Frank Ngatoro with son Tahae outside their home, which won the category for Christian nativity scene. Photo / James Pocock
The home of pastors Frank and Monique Ngatoro was recognised as the best Christian nativity scene.
Frank Ngatoro, also a sponsor of the competition, said it was the first time there had been a Christmas lights competition in Te Karaka.
“It is an opportunity just to be a part of what is happening in the community. I think the whole thing was just about brightening up the community.”
It took about a week to get the lights on his house up, in between going to work.
Te Karaka Christmas lights. Photo / James Pocock
Sam Walker, highly commended in the competition, saw it advertised at the Rangatira Tavern. He nearly changed his mind about entering, but decided to go ahead with the lights he had.
“I didn’t really think I was going to win anything, and when I won something, it was like ‘wow’,” Walker said.
“I appreciate it, and I appreciate what they’ve done for the community as a whole. It’s awesome.”
Rangatira Tavern in Te Karaka helped support the town's first-ever Christmas lights competition. Photo / James Pocock
Jenkin-Baty, who lives near Te Karaka, said the community needed something to “brighten it up” and give it some positive attention after Cyclone Gabrielle.
“This is something good. It is a celebration. It is something to be happy about and proud of, and that is why I wanted us to do this.
“The community has been blessed and uplifted by the joy the lights bring, including those of people who put up lights without entering the contest.”
She thanked the competition’s sponsors for their generosity – Rangatira Tavern owners Stacy and Shaun Coffey, Amber and Mike of Touchwood Fishing Charters, Sue Clayden, Frank Ngatoro and Trevor Baty.
