Manakau School fair bursting with old fashioned family fun

Plants sell well at Manakau School's fair.

Manakau School held another successful country fair on Saturday, raising over $9000 for school funds.

Principal Deb Logan said it was a big decision to even hold the fair, due to the possible impact of changing Covid-19 alert levels.

Manakau School fair sign.

"However, once the decision was made to go ahead, a small group of parents from our Parents' Association were full-on with the planning."

The school kept with their tried and true formula for the traditional fair day – good coffee, great food, lots of cakes for sale, lots of games to keep the kids entertained and a huge white elephant and clothing stall.

This was so big, it had to be housed in the community hall opposite the school. Donations for the white elephant stall come in all year long. Deb thanked the local businesses who are always so generous with donations of products or vouchers as prizes.

Activities on offer included ride a digger, photos with vintage cars including a vintage fire truck, a display of big trucks, cow pat bingo, pop a balloon, wet sponge throwing, a coconut shy, face painting, bouncy castle and young musicians performing.

Caspian admires balloons at the Manakau School fair.

Students at the school were very involved with preparations for the fair. Deb says it is "a visible display of our school motto of personal best always".

Visitors to the county fair were able to get a sneak peek at the newly restored historic block, one of the oldest remaining school buildings in New Zealand, which opened in 1888.

The old block, soon to be renamed Te Whare Huia, will be officially opened on December 4.

Fun at Manakau School Fair.

This fully restored learning space with tongue and grove walls, kauri washstand and skilled craftsmanship is a testament to those who built it over a century ago and the team from D S O'Leary who worked on the restoration.

Deb says it "includes all that a modern learning space needs in terms of acoustics, lighting and heating whilst respectfully embracing the heritage status of the building".