Christmas letterboxes to brighten Mangawhai streets

 

BY JULIA WADE

Local rural and urban neighbourhoods have a chance to get into the festive season with a design competition which aims to bring the Christmas spirit to the streets of Mangawhai.

Trialled for the first time last year, the Mangawhai Christmas Magic Letterbox competition is the brainchild of Mike Pero Mangawhai co-owner Jill Corkin, who was inspired to localise the idea after seeing how the competition brought festivity to the streets of Port Wells.

“The idea just sparked and I wondered if it could work in Mangawhai,” she says. “Port Wells is a smaller community and not spread out as here, however I was pleased to get the numbers we did for last year’s competition, it was awesome.”

Jointly run with Village surf shop Bammas, the competition is already up and running, starting on November 25 until December 15. 

There are two categories to unleash participants’ Christmas imaginations – Traditional and Mangawhai Kiwiana – which last year included a pair of jandals and a mermaid, with six Christmas hamper prizes up for grabs. Mangawhai Beach School students are also in on the action, with children in 20 participating classrooms designing their own individual rural or urban letterboxes in a bid to win a $20 Bammas voucher. 

Photos of the physically dressed-up letterboxes and school designs will be displayed on Mike Pero’s window after the competition closing date. Corkin’s ideas to bring the season to local streets in the future don’t stop at the end of the driveway. “I’m thinking I’d like to make two Santa letterboxes, one each for the Village and Heads, so children can post their Christmas wishes to him, and perhaps a community Christmas tree lit up for the season,” she says. “It will all just add to Mangawhai’s magic at Christmas time.” 

Flyers with competition details can be found in letterboxes or for further information email Jill Corkin at jill.corkin@ mikepero.com or drop into the office in the Village.