Police Blue Light Youth Event a Success
- Kieran Watkins
- Oct 13
- 1 min read
Around 800 to 900 people are estimated to have attended Whakatāne Blue Light’s Activation Day on Saturday.
The event, hosted by the Police youth empowerment programme, saw the Whakatāne High School field packed with families and emergency services. Originally planned for the end of the school holidays, it was pushed back a week due to bad weather.
Free candy floss and more than 1000 sausages were handed out, while games, spot prizes, laser tag, bubble soccer, and face painting kept crowds entertained.
Matatā Blue Light chair and national board member, Senior Constable Kevin Raynes, said the goal was to make the event completely free. He said generous support from Whakatāne businesses—through donated prizes, food, and funding—made that possible.
The most popular attraction was the dunk-a-cop, where kids lined up to hit a target with a wet sponge, sending a bucket of water splashing over a police officer. Community Constable Rob Jones took several soakings, laughing it off as “all for a good cause.”
Raynes said the free community day was designed to strengthen positive connections between young people, whānau, community services, and law enforcement.
He said it also showed young people that Police are also normal people who like to have fun.
He said Police will debrief this week before getting started on plans for next year’s event.
