Christmas in Motueka

Motueka District Brass brings joy

The evening stillness carried the sound of a carolling brass band throughout Motueka last week.

Each December, Motueka District Brass performs Christmas carols in the community with its members carefully seated on the back of a flat-bed truck. They also performed at Woodlands Rest Home and New World Motueka.

Member Melinda Close says their aim is to “put joy back out into our lovely town at such a busy and stressful time of the year”.

Christmas carols raise money for drama production

Home-schooled students from Motueka, Upper Moutere and other Tasman spots burst into song and filled the aisles with Christmas carols at New World Motueka on 15 December.

Parent Sarah Cantor says the children’s one-hour performance raised $214.30 from generous shoppers and adoring listeners, and the funds will go towards the children’s drama production taking place in May, 2024.

“They’ve come together now for [four years] and they usually donate the money to the food bank, but this year they have a drama production… and we have a teacher coming over from Auckland to run a programme for them, so we need to fundraise for that.”