Around 8000 people descended on Ohakune for the annual Carrot Carnival, with local Police helping grow community connections.
The event, held every King¡¯s Birthday weekend, included stalls and displays from local organisations and businesses, along with entertainment and amusement rides.
With the giant carrot sculpture at the heart of the celebrations, it was a sea of orange as locals, businesses, tourists and visitors mingled and enjoyed a piece of carrot cake.
Ohakune Frontline Support Officer Rebecca Davis and PST Senior Constable Howie Iraia organised the Police stall and were supported by their colleague Constable Jordan Rikys.
¡°We had a steady stream of people come and chat with us throughout the day and they were super happy to meet their local cops and asked us lots of questions,¡± says Rebecca.
¡°Kids and their parents had fun trying out our vertical jump test and taking pictures at our photo booth, along with trying on some Police gear, enjoying some colouring-in sheets and taking some pictures in our patrol vehicles.
¡°We received a wide range of questions, from recruitment to crime prevention, and it was a great opportunity to engage with our communities.¡±
This important event in the rural calendar celebrated a special milestone this year ¨C 40 years ago the iconic carrot sculpture was presented to Ohakune and installed at what is now the Carrot Adventure Park.
The much-loved carnival also includes a carrot cake competition, the Kids' Carrot Creation, and the annual Growers versus Locals Games.
¡°Community policing is prevention and care in its most effective form,¡± says Rebecca.
¡°Being a part of these events is a double deal ¨C it shows that we support ¡®our place¡¯ and what the locals are trying to achieve.
¡°It also allows Police to be a natural part of the town¡¯s celebrations at a grassroots level, along with demystifying what cops do, and helps the public see that we live, work, and play in the same place they do.¡±
Fire and Emergency and St John also supported the carnival, which is organised by a committee of dedicated volunteers.
¡°The atmosphere at the Carrot Carnival was the best of small-town manaakitanga and old-fashioned fun and hospitality,¡± says Rebecca.
¡°A big thank you to the organisers for having us, and next year we hope to add AOS and police dogs to our stall.¡±