Community Spirit in Christmas Events
7 NOVEMBER 2012
For Immediate Release
A range of community-focussed Christmas events kick off in Hamilton this week with the annual Low Cost Living Christmas
Expo.
The Expo, to be held this Friday (9 November) at Western Community Centre, is a joint initiative between Hamilton City
Council, Ministry of Social Development, Te Rapakau Pacific Trust, Hamilton Permaculture Trust and New Zealand
Federation of Budgeting Services. The expo runs from 10am to 12pm.
Andy Mannering, Hamilton City Council’s Neighbourhood Development Team Leader, says Christmas can be a difficult time
for some families, so the Low Cost Living Christmas Expo aims to offer simple solutions to keeping within festive
budgets.
“We’ve got a great range of organisations involved, and their representatives will be providing some ideas on everything
from saving money on your power bill to cardmaking, gardening and making Christmas treats,” Mr Mannering says.
Mr Mannering says the Community Development team is also involved in a number of other Community Christmas Events across
the city from 29 November.
The eight different events include music, DJs, and carol singing, bouncy castles and rides, and are held at parks and
locations with existing facilities such as skateboard bowls, netball and basketball courts and playgrounds.
“The Community Christmas Events are really family-focussed, and we work with a number of community groups and schools to
make them safe, fun and free,” Mr Mannering says.
Community Christmas Events:
29 November; St Andrews (St Andrews Middle School) 4-6pm
5 December; Fairfield (Fairfield Park) 4-6pm
7 December; North East (Grosvenor Park) 5-9pm
11 December; Crawshaw (Crawshaw Park) 6-8pm
14 December; Enderley (Enderley Park) 4-8pm
15 December; Central (Garden Place) 11am-3pm
16 December; Flagstaff (Flagstaff Park) 2-8pm
ENDS