A green kind of day

For 15 years George Burdon has routinely walked Stafford St in the mornings, picking up and dropping off messages for businesses along the way.

Yesterday he did it with a little more flair than usual when he dressed in his Irish best in honour of St Patrick's Day.

"I'm only Irish for the day. It helps to brighten the town up a bit," he said.

Mr Burdon would not disclose his age but said he walked about three kilometres daily and rode a bicycle.

"You must keep yourself active, otherwise you lose interest in life."

St Patrick's Day was an opportunity for people to celebrate, he said.

"There could be a wee bit of Irish ancestry in me. We've all got a wee bit in us, haven't we?"

Staff at the BNZ and the National Bank are used to seeing Mr Burdon regularly and he had told them he would be in fancy dress during his morning rounds yesterday.

"I might not get in because I'm in disguise," he joked.

Mr Burdon said he was looking forward to enjoying a pint of green ale and listening to Irish music.

Many Kiwis see St Patrick's Day as a day to honour their ancestral links to Ireland.

- © Fairfax NZ News