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It was supposed to excite the children, but four tonnes of ‘snow' dumped in Katikati last night even thrilled a bunch of 'big kids' who'd never been near the white stuff before.

Starting off school holidays in the Western Bay town, among a huge crowd to the old fire station site was 33 Aongatete Coolstore workers from Vanuatu wanting to get near the ‘snow'.

A group of Aongatete Coolstore kiwifruit workers from Vanuatu pose for a photo in the ‘snow' at Katikati last night.

Fire poi performer Kal Irwin wows the crowd at last night's snow dump.

Organised by Katch Katikati, the salted, shaved ice was piled onto concrete in front of the Main St building from 5pm yesterday.

The free Midwinter All Sorts event marked the start of the school holidays, with glow sticks and licorice allsorts hidden in the snow for children to find.

Crowds of youngsters – and some big ‘children' – converged on the site to play in the ‘snow' until darkness fell and the winter wonderland of festivities were warmed up with a fire poi performance by Kal Irwin, Jenny Ager-Pratt and Sharon Hunter.

The Vanuatu group's Camp Mother Leanne Christie brought the busload of workers to the ‘snow' dump as a bit of fun – hoping Katikati's youngsters wouldn't mind sharing the mini winter wonderland excitement.

'We know it was supposed to be for the kids but they've never seen snow before so we couldn't help ourselves,” says Leanne.

'They've absolutely loved it.”

Katikati Rugby Club's sausage sizzle sold out at the event and milo was being served to thaw children and parents at the end of festivities.

Katikati Volunteer Fire Brigade volunteers hosed the ice away at 7.30pm.

Katch Katikati promotion manager Jacqui Knight says last night's event also marks the start of a week-long, giant licorice allsorts trail hidden in shop windows throughout Katikati for children to find.

Correct entries go in a draw to win – you guessed it – licorice allsorts from RJs.

'We're also running a shop to win promotion; and this and the liquorice trail finish Saturday, July 12,” says Jacqui.

'And we're encouraging kids to make the own licorice allsorts and bring them to Katch Katikati before July 11, so we can display them at Saturday's Moggies Market.”

Entries will be judged to find winners, including a people's choice category.

'They can make real ones, cake ones, cardboard ones, giant ones, small ones, whatever they want.”

For more information, visit www.katchkatikati.org.nz