Te Kuiti will this year become home to the first tree in New Zealand to ‘shine a light’ year-round on multiple special occasions and awareness events.

Local energy retailer KCE has secured approval from the Waitomo District Council to hang hundreds of LED lights among the branches of a Norfolk Pine on Te Kuiti’s Rora Street.

The purpose of the tree, which will be dubbed the ‘KCE Tree of Light’, is to highlight special occasions and awareness events throughout the year which are important to local people.

“As the months go by KCE will light the Tree in different colours to show community support for different special occasions and awareness events,” KCE community relations manager Helen Peacock said.

“It might be red for ANZAC Day, yellow for Daffodil Day or green for Conservation Week. A different occasion or event; a different colour.

“Our hope is that, over time, the Tree will shine a light on hundreds of worthy causes that need profile in the King Country region, and nationwide,” Mrs Peacock said.

The company will light the tree for the first time at 8pm on Friday 11 December at a community event immediately following the Te Kuiti Christmas Parade.

“This debut tree lighting is a free, family-friendly event with a focus on carols, Christmas cheer and charity,” Mrs Peacock said.

“Everyone is welcome, and we encourage attendees to bring a non-perishable food item to place under the tree for the Te Kuiti Foodbank.”

Mrs Peacock said KCE wants the tree to be an initiative that community members can “be a part of” in an ongoing way.

“As well as attending the debut tree-lighting, we encourage community members to email [email protected] with the causes they want to see recognised by the tree in coming months.

“As time goes on, they can also show support on social media by posting photos of the tree with the hashtag #KCEtree and their written tribute to the occasion or event.”

The tree, is set to be strung with lights in late November in anticipation for the December event.

“At KCE we take our role as ‘The power behind the community’ seriously. We look forward to launching the tree and selecting moments to shine for hand-in hand with the Waitomo community.”

Waitomo residents are encouraged to visit www.KCEtreeoflight.co.nz to find out more about a) the launch event and b) the scope of occasions and events to be recognised by the Tree.