Convoy of colourful vehicles light up Northland's small towns

Showing off a look-alike New York Police District car are Zoe Standen, left, Caroline Harrington, Shirley Wilson and Karen Sykes.

A convoy of colourful vehicles trundled through small towns in Northland over the weekend and raised about $9500 for Kiwi kids in need.

The Trillian Trust's Light Mini Trek (formerly The Variety Bash) started on Friday at Omapere where the trekkers gave $350 to the local fire brigade to promote the work firefighters do in their community.

Organiser Murray O'Donnell said 70 trekkers from Whangārei, Auckland, Tauranga and Waikato took part in this year's event which was again well supported by the communities they visited.

"It's been another good year for us. We've been up north a few times over the years and we support the people that support us," he said.

On Saturday, the convoy of colourful vehicles made their way to Kaikohe for a fun stop at the Hone Heke Lookout before heading to Simpson Park in Moerewa where the trekkers met locals.

Their next stopover was in Kawakawa for a ride and lunch on the vintage train before the fun moved to Sandy Bay for a fun stop on the beach, then on to Tutukaka Marina Reserve at 5pm.

The convoy was at the kids' fishing competition on Tutukaka wharf from 8.30am yesterday then moved to the One Tree Point Yacht Club for lunch.

O'Donnell said the trekkers filled up a sandpit yesterday Lions Club volunteers built at Plunket in Wellsford on Saturday before finishing the event at Wellsford RSA.

The Trillian Trek has been going for 28 years and in that time has raised more than $10 million for New Zealand children.

The event runs for three days generally in October each year on many of the North Island's back roads linking small towns and communities.

Fire trucks and uniquely modified crazy, colourful vehicles distribute grants, bikes, insulin pumps, install free fire alarms and assist with community projects bringing smiles, laughter and more.

Northern Advocate photographer John Stone caught up with the trekkers in Tutukaka.