Powerco's Sparky character visits Churton School

Bright Sparks: Churton School pupils were enthralled by Sparky and "PowercoMan" (Churton School principal Andrew Spence). Photo/Stuart Munro

Churton School pupils now know what to do to keep safe around the electricity network, thanks to a visit by Powerco mascot Sparky.

The entrance of the life-sized cartoon character, and recruitment of school principal Andrew Spence as "PowercoMan", delighted the audience at last Friday's assembly.

Since 2014 Sparky has delivered his safety campaign to more than 20,000 children in 80 schools in Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Manawatu. In Powerco's next regional education campaign, Sparky will make an appearance at 20 schools in Whanganui, with the visit to Churton School first on the list.

Powerco group health, safety, environmental and quality manager Julie McAvoy said the event was a short presentation of safety information.

"Sparky and his Powerco helpers take to the stage to show the children how to stay safe if they accidentally kick a ball into a substation, fly a kite into powerlines or see other dangerous sections of the network."

The character is based on a video produced by Powerco as part of its public safety campaign.

"The messages target children aged between 5 and 10 and Sparky helps us spread our safety messages in a fun, interactive way," she said.

"The character is becoming a local celebrity in his own right, featuring in movie advertisements, on the back of buses, billboards and in a book that is donated to school libraries."