The votes have been tallied and the winners announced.

Greerton's annual yarn bombing competition attracted a variety of competitora this year.

This year's yarn bombing theme was ‘Love our Earth - Aroha Ki Papatuanuku' which Greerton Village Mainstreet manager Sally Benning says allowed everyone to celebrate the wonders of the world despite being challenged by Covid.

'There's 36 trees, with about half of them community trees, and half are trees that have had new sleeves knitted, which will be for voting.

'It has been tricky again this year because of Covid. A lot of schools had to drop out because they weren't in school to do the knitting. Some of the older knitters have dropped out, again – Covid-related.”

This year's winners were announced during a morning tea in Greerton on Sunday.

Te Puke Kiwicoast Lions won the judged Open Category and won $750 for their charity and $250 for the creators.

Te Puke Kiwicoast Lions: Christine Campbell, left, Dianne Watson, Joan Shand, Robyn Slater, Julie Gallagher, Janet Spratt and Colleen Bardell.

Sally says the UK Yarn Invaders won the judged category of Emerging Artists – 1^st timers and won $300 for their charity and $200 for the creators

Tracey Sturt, her mum Jane Sturt and family friend Molly Worsfold made a sleeve made in the UK and posted to NZ to be part of the competition.

Bellevue School won the judged School Category and won $300 for their Charity and $200 for the creators.

Bellevue School: Madison Clark left, Jonathon Janse and Nathan Watts.

Pacific Coast Village won the Public Vote – most votes for a tree and won $500 for their charity and $250 for the creators.

Pacific Coast Village: Christine Grinlinton and Julie Kitchen – part of the large team of knitters.

'We are hugely thankful to Leigh Crockford of Ray White Greerton, for sponsoring $2000 for the prize money and Greerton Mainstreet donated the balance,” says Sally.

'This year we farewell Carol Power, who has been our coordinator for the past six years, and welcome on board, Chrissy St Armant who take over for the 2023 project.”