Christmas celebration planned

The Christmas bells will still ring for Porirua City.

Despite last weeks news that the annual Christmas at the Park event had been cancelled, Mayor Nick Leggett said Porirua will still have its special day.

‘‘There’s definitely going to be a Christmas event.’’

Leggett said Porirua City Council ran a Christmas carnival, but it was specifically focused on children.

‘‘After 20 years of Christmas at the Park people expect a Christmas event.’’

He said the council will consult with Porirua residents to find out what they want, but there wasn’t much time before the festive season.

‘‘When I was a kid Porirua had a Christmas Parade, everyone loved it and it was a chance for people to come out and show off their groups and organisations.’’

He said the council had been pleased to support Christmas at the Park and acknowledged the work done by it’s organisers.

Last week Porirua Christmas at the Park committee chairman Robert Brace said the events budget of $80,000 had been increasingly difficult to meet.

‘‘This year we had an expectation of $45,000 from our supportive funders, but that still left us short of $35,000. It was a bridge too far,’’ he said.

Porirua people are invited to email their ideas for another event to RBaldock@pcc.govt.nz.

Last week the news of the Christmas cancellation was met with mixed reactions on Neighbourly.

Carol Dobson from Titahi Bay said she wouldn’t personally miss the event but felt for others who would.

‘‘I have never attended either as Christmas isn’t really my thing. It is a shame for the children though it makes their Christmas special.’

Sean Wakely from Cannons Creek Christmas had been stolen.

‘‘There is a real, live grinch out there, maybe feeling safe in a group or committee who has caused/aided in the theft of Christmas.’’ felt