Christmas is fast approaching and so is Pack the Bus 2023! You may have heard of Pack the Bus – Wairarapa’s annual Christmas gift appeal. Next week, the three Wairarapa councils, alongside Tranzit, Media Works, Property Brokers, Paper Plus and Mitre 10 will drive around the Wairarapa to pack a bus full of gifts, goodies and food items donated by the community to distribute to families in need this Christmas. 

Every year we are blown away by the spirit of giving in our community, supporting those that need love and support. Last year the bus was filled up four times and we were able to help 900 families across the region. It wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing and generous community and all the time and effort made by our valued sponsors and local businesses. 

This year the bus will be picking up gifts from Monday 27 November – Sunday 3 December, starting in the South Wairarapa, and over the week make its way up to Carterton and Masterton, finishing with the Masterton Christmas parade and a park up at Mitre 10.  

The bus schedule includes pitstops at local schools, where students can put their gift on the bus personally. A major contribution is also made by Craggy Range, which has packed the bus full year after year. South Wairarapa District Council is excited to be supporting this great cause again, with Council staff and elected members helping to “pack the bus” along the way. 

At the end of the weeklong drive, the precious cargo will be sorted and redistributed to families through our foodbanks and social agencies. 

If you would like to support your community this Christmas and have got capacity for one more gift, we encourage you to support Pack the Bus this year. 

How can I get involved? 

South Wairarapa businesses and members of the public are asked to drop their gifts off at the Pack the Bus park-ups in the three towns. If you can’t make it to the park ups, you can drop off at SWDC office or any of the Property Brokers offices by 4pm, Friday November 24.  

For more details on where you can catch up with Pack the Bus, visit our website or the Mediaworks’ Pack the Bus Facebook Event Page.