Family Fun Day returns to Springvale Stadium on 25 March

Published on 09 March 2023

Family Fun Day 2023

Family Fun Day will be held this year on Saturday, 25 March from 10.00am until 2.00pm at Springvale Stadium, and is a free event for the whole whānau.

The event, organised by Safer Whanganui and Whanganui District Council, showcases the range of safety and wellbeing support services available in the community through fun activities. The council’s community activator, Harriet McKenzie, says everyone in the community is invited to attend.

“This year we have a bunch of great organisations on board. It’s a day of fun but also with an underlying safety message about keeping our families safe,” she says. “Through activities run by different groups, families can play together while learning about how to be safe at home. And it wouldn’t be a Family Fun Day without a free sausage sizzle and fruit.”

Organisations taking part include Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Community Patrol, Sport Whanganui, Civil Defence, Woven Whānau, Birthright, Te Oranganui, Te Whatu Ora and the Cancer Society among many others. Fire and Emergency New Zealand will have an inflatable fire escape for both adults and children to explore, Police will provide a safety demonstration, there will be an obstacle course and opportunity to build a cardboard castle, as well as a safety quiz with prizes up for grabs.

“There’s such a mix of activities this year – you can try safety gear on and have your photo taken, add a drawing of your own home to the Whanganui art wall, or ride the bikes that will be available at the Springvale bike park,” says Harriet McKenzie.

At 12.30pm, gymnasts at the Whanganui Boys and Girls Gym Club next door to the stadium will showcase their aerobatic skills with a tumbling display. Following the performance the gym will be open until 1.00pm for tamariki to give it a go themselves.

“Last year we had over 1000 people attending and we are hoping for the same numbers this time around. Everything is geared toward keeping your whānau well and safe, and it’s nice to be able to pass these learnings on while having a laugh.”

Family Fun Day is an initiative of Safer Whanganui, a community-led coalition of agencies and groups working in partnership to provide leadership and direction for the promotion of community safety in Whanganui. The event has run every year since 2016, apart from 2021 and 2022 when it was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.