Council’s community facilities were inundated over the school holidays by hundreds of youngsters taking part in activities ranging from Easter egg hunts and inflatable pool play to 3D printing and making colourful, fluorescent lei.

Council’s People and Facilities Group Manager Mosley said all the activities were mapped out in an April What’s On guide, telling residents what was happening at the Ashburton Library, Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum and EA Networks Centre.

“Our activities are always popular, but no doubt the guide was extra handy in the mixed weather we had over the holidays. It was great to see so many people using our community facilities.”

At the EA Networks Centre, almost 400 people enjoyed the Aqualand inflatable waterpark over several days and there were 332 bookings over seven days for the holiday programme, which included a trip to the Antarctic Centre to learn about huskies.

There was plenty of action in the pool, with learn-to-swim classes and water safety education.

Ms Mosley said the free water safety morning was popular.

“Learning stations were set up and people asked lots of great questions so they could know more about how they could keep their friends and families as safe as possible in the water. The raft building that was part of that event was a lot of fun too.”

In the library, an Easter egg hunt attracted 616 entries, with one lucky hunter heading home with a 1.2kg chocolate egg. Almost 120 children took part in activities over the holidays period.

Activities for young adults included 3D printing a kawaii shark, using a laser to cut sea creatures, vinyl printing and digital art sessions.

Ms Mosley said 116 adults also took part in activities at the library over the holiday period.

“There were seven sessions booked in the sound studio as well as eight demo sessions, 19 people attended two Sahaja yoga meditation sessions and 34 came to two of our regular knitting group sessions. The garden conversation group and an exercise group for seniors were also pretty popular.”

The school holidays were a flurry of colour, laughter, and creativity at the Ashburton Art Gallery and Museum.

A highlight was the vibrant workshop run by the Tagata Moana Trust, where Pacific youth gathered for a full day of hands-on STEM learning through a Pacific lens.

Ms Mosley said there was also a lot of laughter and song during the Island Breeze event, which was a celebration of community, culture, and connection.

“Sarah Johnston’s recordings of nurses made during World War Two also drew the crowds, with over 70 people coming along to hear her present her research. We are thankful to to RNZ and Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, for this very moving experience that formed part of our Anzac Day exhibition Land, Sea and Air, honouring four brave Ashburton locals.”

The gallery and museum’s holiday programme attracted hundreds over the two weeks, involving a whole lot of cutting, colouring, glitter, and glue!