A not 'too scary' Halloween

Cheyenne Robson from Rainbow Springs getting ready for its Halloween event. Photo / Stephen Parker

It's normally a quiet place where the kiwi come out at night, but come Saturday Rainbow Springs will be transformed into a spooky place with graveyards and ghouls.

The tourist attraction is being transformed into a safe place for kids and their families to trick or treat and enjoy Halloween.

Celebrating Halloween safely is again the big message from police this year as families get ready to trick or treat around Rotorua.

The police website is advising the spookiest night of the year doesn't have to be the scariest for youngsters or their neighbours. Police are encouraging parents, caregivers and children to celebrate Halloween safely by ensuring children always go trick-or-treating with an adult, stay in areas that are well lit and only visit houses where they know the residents and to be careful not to scare elderly people.

Police say residents don't have to respond to knocks on the door on Halloween. If there are any problems or incidents outside your house and you are concerned ring police for advice or assistance. Householders can download and print 'Trick or Treaters Welcome' or 'No Trick or Treaters Please' posters from the police website to put up on a window or front door.

Rainbow Springs online marketing manager Shelley Burnett said the attraction ran a similar community Halloween event about three years ago but this year's was looking much bigger.

She said if the weather was good she expected between 800 and 900 people could turn up.

"The last one we did was quite successful but that was before the Big Splash - that will be a bonus time."

Mrs Burnett said there would be ghosts and ghouls out around the park handing out lollies to trick or treaters, a "graveyard" was being set up and there would be spooky story time.

Themed food would be available as well as a sausage sizzle.

"It'll be very different. Normally it is very quiet and peaceful in the park at night so this will be quite different. We've tried to be careful, we don't want to do anything too scary."

Mrs Burnett said there would be lucky draw prizes as well as a best costume prize.

The event will take place between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

Entry for locals (which includes Taupo) is $5 for children between 3 and 15. Up to two adults per family, as well as infants, are free.

"All proceeds from ticket sales go to our Kiwi Programme, helping us raise more baby kiwi to go out into the wild."

SAFETY TIPS

* Always go trick or treating with an adult.

* Stay in areas that are well lit.

* Only visit houses where you know the residents.

* Be careful not to scare elderly people.

* Go to www.police.govt.nz/news/featured/safety-tips-halloween