Te Awamutu’s first venture into a Christmas Tree initiative last year was so successful it will happen again.
Thirty wooden trees were placed outside Alexandra St shops late last November, coinciding with the Te Awamutu chamber’s Black Friday Blow Out street party.
The promotion mimicked a similarly successful one in Gisborne and a feature was that the trees were painted by pupils as part of school projects.
With weeks of work invested, it was no surprise that youngsters wanted to show families where their tree had gone.
The kicker was that meant touring Alexandra Street looking for them – and hopefully attracting residents to shop local.
Last week the man behind the project, Ken Hubert, gave members of the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Board a run down on the project as part of a presentation seeking funds.
He said many of the trees from 2023 would be recycled, but it would be necessary to invest funds to replace some.
The project – which he also organised in Gisborne for 10 years before moving to Waipā – had attracted support from 17 schools, Menzshed and the Corrections Department.
He also pointed to stories in the Te Awamutu News which helped advertise the promotion and quoted retailers and schools who supported the concept..
It had been well received by retailers – though some had declined because their head offices had said no.
“Westpac did support it, so I’m any of them can – the trees are not placed in the stores,” he said.
He said at its height as many as 80 trees adorned main shopping streets in Gisborne.
The funding applications was one of 16 the board has received. The chamber of commerce sought $2000 towards the Wooden Christmas Tree Project 2024.
Organisations have applied for a total of just over $36,000 – the board has just under $8450 available in its discretionary grant fund.
The News will have more on the applications next week.
Te Awamutu Primary School students Vivana Perika, left, and Milla Westgate were pictured last November with their school’s tree and chamber members, chief Shane Walsh and Ken Huberts. Photo: Jeremy Smith
