Pohutukawa sprout on Haven Road
The red and green of Christmas is firmly on display on Haven Road.
A grove containing seven of New Zealand’s own Christmas Tree, the pohutukawa, has sprouted thanks to Auckland Point School.
The decorations were made by the primary school children, out of real estate signs and many coats of paint.
‘‘We like to think that people will smile and give a toot,’’ teacher Cheryl Betman said.
Betman, whose better known to her students as Whaea Betti, said while it was flattering that members of the public inevitably opt to take one or two home... she hoped they’d leave the decorations put.
‘‘We put up daffodils in August and everybody loved them,’’ she said.
‘‘But the thing is that people will actually take them… so do you leave them out all night or do you bring them in?’’
Betti said the children at Auckland Point School had spent a long time making the Christmas decorations, but they were relatively simple if people wanted to make their own.
She said she draws out each part of the flower, and while she used to cut them all by hand with a cutting knife, this year they were sent away to go through a bander cutting machine.
Betti said the process has taught the children to learn how to paint, and the patience of applying multiple coats.
‘‘It’s just doing something for the community and it’s our way of displaying children’s art... We’d like people to stop and enjoy them and take photos... just don’t take them away.’’