Trick or treating 'negative, unsafe'

SUSANA TALAGI/Western Leader

NO HALLOWEEN: Mary Anne Schwenke wants kids to have an alternative on October 31.

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Mother of three Mary Anne Schwenke is promoting an alternative to Halloween.

The Avondale resident says trick-or-treating is too commercialised and encourages bad behaviour.

"It’s realistically not safe for children to be out there," she says.

Ms Schwenke, 34, is the coordinator of this year’s "light party" at Rosebank Primary School on October 31.

She says there is a religious component to her reasoning.

"Halloween originates in a pagan holiday and the things that come with it are negative," she says.

Similar events to the light party are held all over the west to discourage children from hitting the streets.

"I’ve seen a lot of young kids going out by themselves unsupervised knocking on doors," Ms Schwenke says.

"That’s probably one of my main motives – to create a safe environment for the kids to enjoy and have fun in. Parents can come along as well.

"The party also has an anti-graffiti message."

Backed by the Avondale Christian Centre, the event has a superheroes theme and will run from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

"And it’s all free," Ms Schwenke says.

People who want to run their own light party can go to www.lightparty.co.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News