Fun celebrations ahead

Kaikoura will have something special to celebrate next weekend when young and old get together for a collaboration between Children's Day and the start of Seaweek.

Organisers of the two events have decided to join forces to make the day an extra celebration, with lots to do for all interests and age groups.

The day kicks off with a celebration of the 10th annual Children's Day, which will run from 11am to 3pm.

The day is all about children, says Lois Vallance, Kaikoura's strengthening families co-ordinator. Activities include a bouncy castle, pat a pet sessions, lolly scramble and a barbecue.

There will also be music involving local youth, Push Play activities and a display tent with lots of information and giveaways, as well as a bicycle safety presentation, also co-ordinated by children themselves.

Children's Day is a national, non-commercial day to celebrate how special and important our children are. This year's theme is Praise and Encouragement.

Hundreds of events have been organised nationwide since Children's Day began in 1991, and Mrs Vallance is looking forward to Kaikoura becoming a part of the annual celebrations.

"It really is all about our children, nothing else," she said. "We encourage everyone to come and join in the fun – let's just hope for a great sunny day."

Seaweek 2010, which runs from March 7 to 14, is being launched on the same day, and what better place to launch such an event than Kaikoura, where marine life and the environment plays such an important role.

A series of themes has been developed for Seaweek over the next five years, starting this year with Fish for the Future, a relevant theme for Kaikoura especially at this time of year.

There will be talks about the rahui in Kaikoura, which is in place to protect supplies of marine stock, rock pool presentations, paddling with kayaks, Coastguard rides, flax weaving, a sand sculpture competition and many other sea-related displays and activities.

Seaweek is an annual event run by the NZ Association for Environmental Education which allows New Zealanders to come together and celebrate the sea. It provides a wide range of opportunities for people to learn about New Zealand's fantastic marine environment and share their experiences of the sea. The idea is to excite and inspire all New Zealanders to renew their connection with the sea.

Kaikoura's Seaweek celebrations will run from 1pm to 6pm.

Both events will be held at Fyffe House and entry to both events is free, all welcome.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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