Christmas party for Kaikoura kids

Santa has arrived via-helicopter to bring some festive cheer to Kaikoura kids after a shaky couple of months.

The School of Social Services at Otago Polytechnic have organised a collection of gifts to be sent to Kaikoura to top off the fun at a Christmas party for Kaikoura's youth.

Hundreds of families have turned up to have some fun in the sun with Santa, bouncy castles and a container-load of presents.

Children lining up for presents which are set to be handed out by Santa (Newshub.)
Children lining up for presents which are set to be handed out by Santa (Newshub.)

Last Tuesday, NZPost took 300 of the donated gifts from Dunedin to Kaikoura, free of charge.

In total, Otago Polytechnic organised 500 presents to be delivered to Casebrook school in Kaikoura.

The donated gifts were left under a tree at Otago Polytechnic (Otago Polytechnic/Facebook)
The donated gifts were left under a tree at Otago Polytechnic (Otago Polytechnic/Facebook)
NZ post van full of gifts
The gifts were then delivered in 35 banana boxes (Supplied)

Party organiser Elisabeth May is hoping Kaikoura children will remember this Christmas for good, rather than bleak, reasons.

"What we're doing is taking a massive party up there to relieve a bit of stress and have some fun for the kids."

Ms May says she's amazed at the generosity of the Otago public, with bouncy castles, bubble machines and a professional Santa all provided, along with the container load of gifts.

She hopes the party brings some relief to the parents as well.  

"I just felt sick for them I know what I would be like if I was under that much stress."

Newshub.