Riverton residents rally behind funding for community Christmas tree

Wednesday, 6 June 2018

If there is one thing Riverton does well, it is celebrating Christmas but the town is missing one thing.

It needs a Christmas tree.

Tanya Colyer is determined Riverton will have a community Christmas tree this year.

The town is known for its traditional Christmas Eve parade that draws thousands to it each year.

Colyer, who is in charge of raising funds to buy the tree, had hoped to have one in place in 2017 but not enough money was raised.

Fundraising had continued this year, with growing support from many areas of the Riverton community, Colyer said.

'It's definitely going to happen this year.'

Representatives of the Riverton Lions and Rotary Clubs, Riverton Aparima Community Board and Op Shop had given positive feedback on the project.

Quiz evenings have been the main form of fundraising. Last week, the seventh of 10 quizzes was held with money raised on the night lifting project funds to $3950.

The tree costs $17,000.

'More [quiz] teams are coming now, a lot of people are talking about the tree and want to be involved.'  

The quiz master and longtime Riverton resident Peter Templeton said people in the town were good at rallying behind fundraising projects. 

'We've got so many families here with young children and they'll love the tree.'  

The all-weather Christmas tree, to be sourced from an Auckland manufacturer, must be ordered in August to allow time for it to arrive, Colyer said.

She added the 6.3-metre tree would also be put up. with different decoratings, for the annual market day in July.

Colyer said an annual quiz night could be held to raise money to cover maintenance costs of the tree.

The remaining three quiz nights are at the Aparima Restaurant and Bar (June 28), Carriers Arms Tavern (July 26) and Riverton Lodge Hotel (August 30).

'I want everybody in Riverton to be proud of the tree,' Colyer said.