MEDIA RELEASE 25 October 2002
Remember To Celebrate Children’s Day This Sunday
“Remember to celebrate Children’s Day this Sunday (27 October),” says Children’s Day National Communications and
Publicity Manager, Brigit Vaughan.
“Turn off the TV and do something fun together, make a picnic, visit a museum, fly a kite, or go and see some friends or
family. The most important thing is that we take the time to celebrate, treasure and respect our children,” Brigit says.
“All families, community groups and schools can participate by doing something new or special with the children in their
life. It’s not about buying them a gift it’s an opportunity to ask ourselves, how we can become involved in growing a
healthy environment that will support our children’s development,” she says.
“Many community groups have already identified ways to celebrate the day including, attending family fun days, kids’
music shows, art exhibitions, or just planning to go for walks, a picnic, and or writing and reading stories together,”
Brigit says.
Governor General, Dame Silvia Cartwright offered her support to children’s day at an event in Otara, Auckland today by
saying, “Children are our main asset and our future. It is important to take time out and reflect on whether we are
giving our youngest their due.”
Steve Maharey, Minister Social Services and Employment at another Children’s Day event in Highbury, Palmerston North
also said today “For me this is about shared responsibility, together we can celebrate our children and give them the
best possible start in life. Ultimately I see the spirit of Children’s Day as part of everyday life for every child,
family, and community.”
See the Children’s Day website www.childrensday.org.nz for activities in a community near you or for ideas on how to
celebrate it in your own way.
Children’s Day 2002 – Events Listing
Region Date Time Venue Event
Auckland 26-28 October All Day Auckland War Memorial Museum Living Treasures
Auckland 27 October 1pm-5pm Aotea Square For families and teenagers. 3 on 3 basketball – Win clothing
from ANDI, break dancing competitions – win clothing from EKCO, soccer, International DJ’s, Nesian Mystik free
entertainment
Auckland 27 October 2pm-4pm Massey Leisure and Recreation Centre Free gymnastics and other fun activities
Auckland 26-28 October 11am-2pm Auckland Zoo Enchanted trails and magical tales. Free face painting.
Kids come dressed as your favourite animal and win spot prizes.
Auckland 26-28 October All Day Village Force Cinema’s $5 movie passes for kids and adults to see various
children’s movies.
Auckland 25 October All Day The Auckland Museum The Sir Edmund Hillary Exhibition – entry by donation.
Show includes Nagaland State Dance troupe, Indian puppeteers and Rangoli artist.
Caterton 26 October 10am-2pm Athletic Park Athletics Carnival and Craft Fair. Meet Kiwi sporting
legends: Peter Snell, Aaron Slight, Sir Brian Lochore and Tinks Pottinger.
Chatham Island Event 27 October All Day Community Centre Chatham Island Family fun day. Sausage sizzle and fun
for the whole family.
Christchurch 27 October 10.30 Christchurch City Salvation Army A fun service just for kids
Christchurch 31 October 5.30pm-8pm Christchurch City Salvation Army Hallelujah Party. Activities
include sausage sizzle, giant banana split, games and prizes for the most original and colourful costumes.
Dunedin 14 -27 October All Day Cleveland Living Arts Centre Children’s Art Exhibition
Contact: Peter Guest, SDU Mgr, Otago
Gore 25 October 10am-4pm Woolworth’s, Gore School colouring competition with artworks displayed at
Woolworth’s, Gore on 25 October with a prize giving at 3.30pm.
Organised by Te Iho Awhi Rito Social Services
Greymouth To Be Confirmed 12noon Onwards CYF Greymouth Office Greymouth CYF Office is organising a BBQ and fun
afternoon for caregivers and children in their care this event is yet to be finalised Please contact CYF Greymouth for
further details.
Gt Barrier Island 27 October 11am-3pm On the Island If you are on the Island and are wanting to join
in with the fun of celebrating Children’s Day contact Marie Woodcock on 09-429-0046
Hamilton 26 October 9am Innes Common beside the Lake Launch of the Hamilton CC’s Child and Family
Policy. A powhiri organised by Ngati Wairere Trust in conjunction with Te Ara Rima Kura Kaupapa Maaori.
Free sausage sizzle and family picnic. Activities include onstage Kapa Haka and Polynesian dancing, sporting activities,
The Animal Activity Bus and a huge inflatable Obstacle course for children.
Invercargill 25 October 12 noon Queens Park Fun Day organised by Barnardo's. Activities include
side-walk drawing and sausage sizzle
Invercargill 2 November 11.30am-4pm Waikiwi Rugby Club Rooms, Bainfield Rd Fun Day. Activities include
sausage sizzle, games, raffles and mystery prizes.
Organised by Time Out Carers Bureau and Parent to Parent Southland
Invercargill 17 November All Day Old Rugby Southland Blg Don St Event organised by The Parent Centre
Invercargill and Sport Southland.
Kaitaia 27 Sunday 12 noon Local Swimming Pool Opening Sausage Sizzle
Kataia 26 October 12 noon Rock Steady Sausage Sizzle
KL Malaysia 27 October 11am – 2om New Zealand High Commission Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Celebrations for
New Zealand Children in Malaysia Contact Tania Garry Consular, Public Affairs and Research Coordinator, New Zealand High
Commission Kuala Lumpur
Manawatu 27 October All Day Queen Elizabeth College Manawatu Access Radio ‘Triple 9’ will be running
a children’s Radio programme and open day at the studio.
Manawatu 25 October 2-5pm Monrad Park Tamariki Day (Sports events, BBQ, Games, Face Painting)
Manawatu 3 November afternoon Lido FCAssn is running an event for families who are part of the
Assn, entrance fees will be paid, drinks, BBQ, swim, slides etc
Manukau 27 October 11am-5pm Hayman Park Family Fun Day. Activities include amusement rides, live
entertainment, food stalls and lots of games and activities for the kids including mountain bike races.
Manukau 27 October 7pm Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Khyber Pass, Newton Musice Sacra sing choral
evensong
Masterton 25-27 October Evenings St Matthew’s Collegiate A magical weekend of wonder, imagination and
entertainment for the whole family including: African-American stories, myths and folk tales, mime, puppets
Napier/
Hastings 27 October 10am-2pm Farndon Park in Clive Family day for children from both Napier and
Hastings. Activities include waka rides on the river, old fashioned games ie. egg and spoon, bouncy castle, horse rides,
live music from local kids and other live entertainment.
Otago 27 October 2.30pm Dunedin Railway Station Opening ceremony and the awarding of prizes at the Dunedin
railway. Surprise celebrity guests will present plus there will be live coverage from 98 More FM. Healthy food and
drinks will then be served at the Otago Settler Museum followed by fun and games from 3pm.
Philippines 27 October 12 noon-3pm New Zealand High Commission Philippines Meeting at the NZ Commission,
Parents and Children will proceed to the Community Church Hall, Where we will celebrate Children’s Day with Flash
Animations and Presentations. Also stickers from NZ will be given out and loads of games and fun activities will
commence.
Porirua city 27 October All Day North City Shopping Centre Abi and Co will be at the Shopping centre
Painting faces and giving Music Madness sessions at the North City Shopping Centre so grab your folks and head down to
the Centre, it’s all about Children.
Rotorua 27 October 11am-2pm Aquatic Centre
Polynesian Pools Join in the fun at the Aquatic Centre and the Polynesian Pools, Grap you Parents your togs and
theirs spend the day splashing and racing them the lengths of the Pool
Taranaki 27 October 9.30am-3.30pm Eltham Primary School Beginning with breakfast, the day will be full
of Kiwi Sports and fun events. Helping with the events will be Taranaki rugby and netball representatives and Sport
Taranaki. The main focus for the day is parent participation, healthy food and fun.
Contact: Katrina Brown 06 764 8455
Taranaki 3 November All Day Puketapu Park Fun filled Children’s Day
Taranaki
Sunday 3 November 12-3pm YMCA, Leach Street & Hatchery Lawn, Pukekura Park YMCA: Under 5’s activities: painting etc, gymnastics
Basketball in stadium for older children
Fun activities at Park – bouncy pirate ship, face painting, races, balloons, lolly scramble, sausage sizzle, drinks etc
Contact: Jan Johns, CYFS, 06 968 3312
Timaru 27 October 10am-2.30pm Caroline Bay Family Picnic. Competitions and games. Colouring Competition and
mystery prizes
Waiheke Island 27 October 11am-2pm Little Oneroa Beach, Waiheke Island Teddy Bear’s Picnic
Wairarapa 27 October 1pm-5pm Phillips Aquatics Wavepools Half price special for families
Wairarapa 27 October All Day The Train in the Park Masterton
Wairarapa 27 October All Day Boatrides in the Park Masterton
Wairarapa 27 October All Day Queen Elizabeth Park A Frog themed event with giveaways, sausage sizzle.
Wairarapa 27 October All Day Skate n’ Blade. Masterton
Wairarapa 10 November All Day Wairarapa Racing Club A great fun filled day for the family. Free children’s
entertainment includes: Turbo rocket slide, Noddy train, mini bikes, pony rides, Zappo the Magician, treasure hunts and
more.
Waitangi 27 October All Day Tau Henare Drive Waitangi Paihia Bay of Islands Come and join is the festivities
of Children’s Day celebrated on the grounds of Waitangi, there will be loads of activities to participate in. So bring
you parents and a lot of energy.
Contact Emily for more Details Phone 09-402-7437
Wanganui 27 October 10am-3pm The Splash Centre Free swimming and a sausage sizzle.
Wanganui 3 November All day Kowhai Park, Wanganui In conjunction with Takaro Rotary, Barnardos Family
Support Service are organising a day for the whole family (families they have worked with as part of their service)
train rides, BBQ, lunch
Wellington 27 October 10am-5pm Te Papa NatureSpace
Level 2 Fun frog activities. Make a frog badge, make a leaping frog. Enjoy a day learning about New Zealand
frogs and play fun frog party games.
Wellington 27 October 8am-7pm Trust Porirua Aquatic Centre Bring your lunch and spend the day at the pool.
$1.00 discount for everyone.
Wellington 22 October 6pm Youth Committee of Tawa Rotary Club Bring a child/grandchild. A special
meal is planned and a games filled evening with all children receiving prizes for participation and adults getting fined
for real and imagined offences.
Wellington 27 October 10am-3pm Waikanae Park A fun, informative event focusing on children and
families in the Kapiti area.
Wellington 27 October 11am-3pm Lower Hutt Horticultural Hall Free fun activities including a special
magic show by Ronald McDonald, Ferris wheel and bouncy castle, face painting , story telling, food stalls and shows by
local school groups
Wellington 27 October 10am-11.30am St Paul’s Anglican Church Upper Hutt ‘The Space’ Children’s Church.
Features include teaching, a live children’s band, dancing and games, followed by morning tea.
Wellington 27 October 11am-1pm Upper Hutt Library Story Time
Wellington 27 October 11am-1pm H20Xtream. Upper Hutt Free swim time for children 14 years old and
younger. Families are encouraged to come along together and spend the day at the pool.
Wellington 25-28 October 10am-4pm
Capital E View the Lego Frogs for free
Wellington 27 October 11am-5pm Karori Wildlife Reserve &
Eastborne Lighthouse Family are encouraged to take their Children on Walks around the city, Pack your luches and a
Throw rug, turn off the Play station and the computer and enjoy the Wider Wellington Outdoors.
Whangarei 20 October 11am-2pm Mair Park Family Picnic: Activities include scavenger hunt, egg & spoon races, bouncy castle, face painting, Burma trail, bush walks, a fishing event & finger painting.
For further information on these activities visit the website: www.childrensday.org.nz or phone 0800 10 33 22.