11 November 2020
Media: Weekender
Topic: Santa's Wonderland and CBD Christmas Festival
Enquiry
Reporter sought information and comment regarding the Santa's Wonderland at the Rotorua Visitor Centre and i-SITE and the Christmas Festival at Te Aka Mauri and had the following general questions regarding the events:
Why come and visit the Wonderland/Christmas Festival?
When and where is it?
What activities are on offer?
Response
Information about Santa's Wonderland
From Rotorua Visitor Centre and i-SITE, Team Leader, Sabrina Gogg:
The Rotorua Visitor Centre & i-SITE will be creating the Santa's Wonderland again this year following a very successful first time back in 2016 when it was located at the Redwoods Visitor Centre. (Shauni these pictures were taken by Daily Post last time click here - they might be bigger than ones attached)
12,000 locals and visitors from all around the country visited the Wonderland in 2016. Schools, early childhood providers and families made it a destination to share in the Christmas Spirit, right here in Rotorua.
Why come and visit the Wonderland: Kids of all ages will enjoy the twinkling lights and Christmas magic in this display. We have had a lot of fun putting it together and can't wait to see children's faces!
When and where: Located in the Rotorua Visitor Centre & i-SITE on Fenton Street, Santa's Wonderland will be open from Saturday 21 November 2020 until Friday 8 January 2021 (except Christmas Day). Santa's Wonderland will be free to visit and have different sections of the Wonderland to explore. There will be moving Santa's, decorated and themed Christmas trees, snow globes, lots of Christmas lights, a nativity scene and much more.
Other activities on offer: There will be photo opportunities with Santa (check Facebook @RotoruaVisitorsCentre for time when Santa will be visiting). Other Christmas themed activities for children will be on offer such as 'write a letter to Santa', gift wrapping, colouring and various arts and crafts activities.
Information about Christmas Festival
From Rotorua Lakes Council, Arts & Culture, Markets & Festivals Manager, Brigitte Nelson:
Get into the festive spirit with a special Christmas Festival on Saturday 19 December 2020, from 10am until 3pm.
Located in Jean Batten Square (near Rotorua Library and Rotorua i-SITE) this free event will have something for all the family to enjoy!
Why come to the Festival: The festival will provide a fun festive event for all the family to enjoy. There will lots to do throughout the day and help spread some special Christmas magic in Rotorua.
What's Happening: Throughout the day, there will be live performances of Christmas music from local bands and singers. Kids can take part in fun arts and craft activities as well as get their face painted. They can write letters to Santa and post them in the letterbox to be delivered to the North Pole. In the market area people can shop for special Christmas gifts from arts and crafts stalls. Yummy food stand will be available while families wait to have photos with Father Christmas in Santa's Wonderland inside the i-SITE.
Families are invited to bring a gift for the Community Christmas Tree located in Rotorua Library. These gifts will be donated to Waiariki Womens Refuge for families in need this Christmas.
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Media: NZHerald In Focus
Topic: Rotorua Museum's aquabots competition
Enquiry
Video reporter asked to interview appropriate person re the following lines of questions:
1. who won and why were they selected - for organizers
2. Who judged and what were they looking for - for judge (if they are local)
Questions for kids
3. For those heading to the nationals, I;d ask a few questions, for example, are they excited to head to the nationals and why
4. What kinds of future aspirations do they kids have
5. What does the national competition mean for them
6. who re they
Response
Arrangements were made for reporter to interview students and teachers and the following general information was provided:
From Rotorua Museum Digital Technology Educator, Jessica Wilkes:
Who won and why were they selected: Teams were selected based on their scores across five different activities. The challenges included: the NZAquaBots Obstacle Course, Kai Collection (a competition to retrieve the most balls and bottles), Delivery (a competition to deliver various items to an underwater shelf), a quiz and team presentation. The accumulated score is ranked and the top three teams from each division (primary, intermediate and high school) qualify for the Aquabots National Competition in Wairarapa (28 November 2020). (Delilah - see winners tables below)
Who judged and what were they looking for: The panel of judges was made up from a variety of areas including: Hayes International, Rotorua Lakes Council, Vortex, Rotorua Library, local university students, Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust and local engineers. They were judging using the attached rules and scoresheets. (If you would like a quote from one of the judges Jessica can organise for you Delilah)
Questions for children or teachers of winning teams going to Nationals: There is going to be a Aquabots get together for most of the teams that took part this Sunday 15 November (1pm - 4pm) at Rotorua Library - that might be a perfect time to chat to the kids/teachers and get photos and videos to use. We can also supply some images from the weekends competition if that is helpful.
Here are the results from the event:
Primary Schools - Overall Winners:
- Soggy Potatoes (TAM Robotics Club)
- St Mary's R4 - Te Waka (St Mary's)
- Minimakers (TAM Robotics Club) Intermediate Schools - Overall Winners:
- Baffle Bot Broz (Galatea)
- Hautapu Marines (Hautapu)
- Drowning Fish (John Paul College) High Schools - Overall Winners:
- Team Tahi (TAM Robotics Club)
- Wai Wahine (Te Rangihakahaka)
- Team Mystic (TAM Robotics Club)