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Al O’Connor / Supplied
The Christmas Light Night Rider bus tours have been so popular that the organizers have offered additional services. The trips have been made to combat the social isolation of the elderly.
It has tinsel, four wheels, and is proving popular with retirees.
Aiming to get the elderly out of what may be a sad time for some, the free Christmas Light Night Rider tours of Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, or Wellington stop at properties with Christmas light displays.
Santas on board hand out loot bags with candy, cookies, Christmas cake, and other goodies, and singers entertain passengers while on the road.
Organizer Al O’Connor says the outings, for people 65 and older, have been so popular that he and his volunteers have had to add extra dates and add more buses.
“Some of the older people don’t go out very often. It’s not just about seeing the lights, but about having company and getting to know their communities, ”says O’Connor.
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Buses, gasoline, and candy are provided by Porirua and Upper Hutt companies.
Coordinator Rose Vailima said word had spread about the tours and had received more than 1,000 text messages and countless calls and emails requesting seats for the tours.
Upper Hutt’s Kathy Farrell went on the Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt tours before deciding she wanted to volunteer as an entertainer. Now she plays the reindeer of Maca, a festive version of the Macarena, on buses.
She said the trips were wonderful because many older people couldn’t drive or didn’t have the confidence to go out at night.
Al O’Connor / Supplied
Companies from Porirua and Upper Hutt have provided buses, gasoline and sweets for passengers.
“I can’t thank [the organisers] enough. The lights are beautiful and the bus stops right outside the houses. “
Another Upper Hutt resident, Katrina Burton, said: “It was as if Christmas had come early … [Many of us] I couldn’t have seen [the lights] on our behalf.”
Originally supposed to be a one-time travel series, O’Connor said he was now considering keeping the tours a social trip, albeit perhaps without the New Year carols.
Rose Vailima / Supplied
Volunteer Ani Waiwai sings to passengers on a Christmas Light Night Rider tour bus.
Age Concern NZ Executive Director Stephanie Clare said older people were particularly susceptible to loneliness or social isolation, which can contribute to worse health, such as memory loss and cardiovascular disease.
He said the light rides were a good way to get older people activated.
“There is a stigma that comes with loneliness: people are less likely to ask for help. This event allows people to come together without people having to say ‘I’m alone.’
People wishing to attend a trip can contact Rose Vailima at 0275644459. Trips are free, but reservations are essential.
Upper Hutt Tour, December 21, 7:45 PM
Porirua Tour December 23, 7.30 p.m.
