Last week’s annual Art in the Park event went “exceedingly well”, says organiser Sue Whale.

Whale said there was a large turnout of 250 young people and their families for the event at Sullivan Lake last Wednesday, with everyone getting involved in the art workshops and activities, including Whakatāne Mayor Nándor Tánczos.

She said there was live music from local talent Rohan Evans, as well as Meyer Cook, David Glover, William Kirk and Kararaina Beckett, and the music added to the atmosphere of the afternoon.

The mic was also open to the public to perform; “it was awesome that they had the courage to get up,” said Cook.

Tania Akehurst taught people how to make frog puppets out of paper bags, and Abby Baker led a lesson in raranga (weaving), making bracelets and small animals from flax.

Bob Stirk showed youngsters how to make fine-line patterns; Whale did drawings with pastel, and Maria King and Caroline Stewart showed the young people – and Mayor Tánczos – how to crochet.

There was a sausage sizzle supplied by Fonterra, and Carli Burn brought the Munchies gelato cart down to the event for people to have a sweet treat.

The event, sponsored by Toi Moana BOP Regional Council and the creative community, was scheduled for January 21 but was postponed because of the weather warnings in place.

It was held on January 28 in sunny conditions.

Andy Thompson was there to hand out balloons and students from Whakatāne High School did face and nail paintings for the younger children.

Halo Whakatāne organised a scavenger hunt that involved the children running around the lake to find cut-outs of native birds and sea creatures, and a second activity where children  made their own paint brushes and mixed clay, dirt and coal then painted on a big chalk board as a collective art peace. It was then washed off and recycled

“We reuse everything we can here,” said Cook, from Halo Whakatāne.

With 2026 Art in the Park such a success, the organisers are already looking ahead to next year.