Christmas fever starting to build | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

A group of polytech art students have kicked off the silly season in Tauranga by setting up special Christmas installations in the Goddard shopping centre and plans are under way for more to follow.

Seven weeks out Christmas fever is building and Mayor Stuart Crosby said that the abundance of festive activity planned for the coming weeks will be a welcome relief to residents and businesses in the area needing respite from the Rena disaster.

"In and around Christmas and New Year's there will be a lot of activities.

"We need to get the message out that we're still out for business ... to let the rest of the country and the world know that the Western Bay of Plenty is still a great place to come over Christmas and New Year's," he said.

The Bay of Plenty Polytechnic students were commissioned to adorn the shopping centre with decorations made only from white paper.

Tutor Laurie Steer said the students were given a ream of paper each and left to their own devices.

"Everyone did their research on how to use the paper, how we could use origami and other techniques to create shapes and folding techniques. It was really hard because we only had paper and white to work with, but I think the end result is good," he said.

The students had about four weeks to complete the decorations and the commissioned work was additional to the existing curriculum work.

Mary Stewart, group leader of culture from the Bay of Plenty School of Design, said the students became immersed in the spirit of Christmas.

"You could hear them, while they were creating the shapes; they were sharing their Christmas stories; where they go for Christmas, family traditions and the likes. The amazing thing was the project involved getting back to basics, spending time together and creating things and isn't that also what Christmas is about?" she asked.

Beyond the central shopping centre, communities around the Bay of Plenty are gearing up their Christmas plans.

Downtown Tauranga manager Kirby Weiss said the main street could expect flags, decorations and a return of the tree in Red Square.

He said the tree would stand about 9m high and was returning through public demand.

"We have got the tree going up again in the next week or so, the new wreaths and ribbons will be going up again and of course the businesses will start doing Christmas deals and promotions in their stores," he said.

Greerton Village mainstreet manager Victoria Thomas said Greerton would be putting on a lights show this year as well as Christmas-themed races and a variety show.

"It's kind of like: Out with the rugby, in with Christmas. We are entering the Christmas lights trail as a village. All the shops are decorating their windows to the nines," she said.

The Greerton variety event will feature schools with bands, choirs and dancing groups as well as activities for the kids.

Christmas festivities at a glance

Mount Maunganui

Parade: November 27
Decorations up: November 20

Greerton

Christmas races: November 12 and December 9
Lights trail: December 1
Variety event: December 16

Katikati

Parade and variety concert: December 10

Te Puke

Parade: December 3

Waihi

Parade and market day: December 10