Helensville was filled with happy faces as families and their children gathered for the Children’s Day Family Fun Day event organized by Kindred Family Services. With over 445 children and 961 attendees, the day was dedicated to celebrating tamariki and fostering family togetherness.
According to Ana Christmas, Executive Director of Kindred Family Services, “This event came at a very important time for our community. After the devastation of the cyclone, many local events were cancelled, and we considered doing the same. However, the team at Kindred felt strongly that a fu
n-filled and completely free day out for local families would be very positive for t
he well-being of tamariki, and it seems that in the end, the timing was just right. Thanks to volunteers Florence Te Ohaere, Jaylene Penetana-Fitzgerald and Michelle Rapana-Wharewaka who helped organise the event, under some pretty tight time pressures. The event came together beautifully under their manaaki.”
The event offered various games and activities, free ice creams and sausages, and a host of performances and entertainment that made it a day to remember for local children. Positive feedback on the day was overwhelming, with at least one child overheard shouting, “This is the best day of my life!”
In addition to Kindred Family Services, over 17 local organizations collaborated to make Children’s Day a success. The event also received sponsorship from Kaipara Medical Centre, Paper Plus Helensville, Helensville Lions, Ninja Kiwi, Generation Homes, and Christine & Joe Wood, who helped to fund the entertainment, kai, and ice-creams throughout the day, ensuring everything, from sausages to pony rides, were completely free for all.
A big highlight of the day was Helensville Primary School’s Kapa Haka and Pasifika groups, whose performances drew huge crowds and rowdy applause from parents and spectators. Helensville Primary School can be proud of its children’s passionate performances.
Overall, the Children’s Day Family Fun Day event was a huge success, bringing together the local community for a day of fun, laughter, and family togetherness.
