Thank you to our amazing local businesses

Hokonui and these awesome local businesses are giving you the chance to win 10,000 cash!
Please support them this festive season. 

What's On this Christmas?


We've turned the town festive
Keep an eye on local monuments for our touch of festive flair. Selfies are a must! Post your pictures to Facebook with the hashtag #hokonuichristmas (and make sure you set the post 'public' so we can give it a "like"). 

The Country Cookbook
The Country salutes local food producers with the eagerly anticipated The Country Cookbook. Jamie Mackay and the team have called on contributors to produce over 280 pages of recipes, stories and scenes from right across rural NZ. The perfect gift for Christmas. You won't see recipes from celebrity chefs in this cookbook. What you will see are well worn recipes from those who stand together in celebrating our food producers, giving the ingredients center stage. And when you gift a copy, you'll also be directly contributing to 'Will to Live' - the charitable foundation supporting mental health awareness in young people across the country. Purchase yours from the NZME/Hokonui Gore office on Main Street, or visit www.thecountrycookbook.co.nz. 

H&J Smith Secret Santa Tree 2019
H&J Smith and Family Start want to help a local child celebrate Christmas. Simply take a gift tag from the tree found in the Gore store (below the staircase), return it with an age and gender appropriate gift, and place it under the tree. The gifts will be donated to families in need this festive season. Gifts need to be returned by Fri 13 Dec. Contact the store for more information. 

Hokonui Christmas at the Movies - Friday 29 November
Back for the 6th year by popular demand, Hokonui Christmas at the Movies has become THE event to ring in the festive season. Featuring fun and games, heaps of prizes to be won, and new movie "Arctic Dogs" enjoyed on the big screen with friends and family. Last year we reached capacity in less than half an hour! So to avoid disappointment in 2019, we are making this a ticketed event. STILL 100% FREE thanks to the support of our Bring it Home participating businesses. You will have the opportunity to secure a ticket through your local school, community group, and by listening to Luke Howden Breakfast 94.8FM weekday mornings (these on air golden tickets will include a free popcorn and drink!). Feel free to bring a donation for the local Salvation Army Food Bank. 
- St James Theatre on Irk Street.
- Doors open 3:30pm.
- Fun and games on stage from 4:00pm.
- Movie from 4:30pm.

Go-Retail Christmas Hours and FREE Parking!
Retailers across Gore are banding together to set longer festive trading hours, including a series of late nights, to help make ticking off your Christmas list even more convenient. Take advantage of the free CBD parking each late night, every weekend through December, and the whole week into Christmas (from Monday 17 December until Monday 24 December) thanks to Gore District Council. This year it again includes the Brennan Lane carpark. ​
  • THURS 21 NOV (Gala Night) - 9am to 9pm.
  • SAT 7 and SUN 8 DEC - 10am to 2pm (Gore Santa Parade on the Sunday, details below). 
  • THURS 12 DEC - 9am to 9pm (look out for the Hokonui team with our FREE popcorn Christmas wagon). 
  • SAT 14 and SUN 15 DEC - 10am to 2pm. 
  • THURS 19 DEC - All day from 9am (for the Hokonui $10,000 Cash for Christmas draw).
  • SAT 21 and SUN 22 DEC - 10am to 2pm. 
  • MON 23 and TUES 24 DEC - All day 9am to 5:30pm.
  • CLOSED XMAS DAY WED 25 DEC
  • BOXING DAY THURS 26 DEC - 10am to 4pm. 

Gore Toot for Tucker - Thursday 5 December
Gore River Valley Lions alongside emergency service volunteers will again hit the streets to collect non-perishable food items. Last year close to 4000 items were donated. From 6:00pm, have non-perishable food or amenity items sitting in clear sight by your mailbox for collection. If you miss the drive, you are able to drop items direct to the Salvation Army on Irwell Street. 

New World Gore Christmas Club Day - Thursday 5 December
Come and celebrate the festive season with New World Gore on Irk Street between 9:00am - 5:00pm. Enjoy your share of amazing special offers, free vouchers and prizes, kids activities, free samples, and local entertainers. BBQ taking donations to the Salvation Army. Santa will be in store from 2:00pm with a bunch of presents. Luke Howden from Hokonui will be the MC. See you at New World Gore, and don't forget your Club Card. Every 20th customer will receive a "Christmas Cracker" with your chance to win some amazing prizes, including:
  • The value of your shop back
  • New TV
  • Turkeys and Hams
  • Gift baskets
  • Goodie bags
  • Gift cards

Gore Christmas Parade and Christmas in the Park - Sunday 8 December
The Santa Parade returns to Gore's Main Street, starting 12pm. Any community organisation, club, school, kindergarten, or group in the District is welcome to enter a float. It's a great way to promote what you do and there is no entry fee. Click here. Registrations close 5pm on Friday November 15. There are prizes awarded for the best floats. It is also possible to hire floats from the Southland Santa Parade for a fee.
Following this, join us from 12:30pm in the Gore Gardens for Christmas in the Park. Lay out a picnic blanket and relax among the beautiful trees, while children enjoy all the free activities on offer. Live local  entertainment, food stalls and more. Take a photo with Santa, and look out for the Hokonui Fame Frame. Our own Breakfast Host Luke Howden will be the MC, with heaps of prizes up for grabs. Find all you need to know here. 

Farmlands Gore New Store Opening - Monday 9 December
Hokonui is proud to celebrate with shareholders and stakeholders alike, the opening of the new Farmlands Gore store on Lyne Street. This project has been almost a decade in the making, and will see a brand new purpose built facility to be enjoyed by shareholders as a rural hub for supplies and expertise. Farmlands invite you to come for a look around and celebrate with great food, refreshments, and prizes from 10am. More details to come close to the time.  

$10,000 Cash for Christmas Winner Announcement - Thursday 19 December
Join us as we transform Irk Street into a Christmas wonderland for one night only. Action from 5:30pm (road closed from 4pm). Come for a taste of Top Paddock Music Festival with 2018 GOLD GUITAR WINNER ARUN O'CONNOR alongside 2019 GOLD GUITAR WINNER JAYDIN SHINGLETON on the big stage. Also a huge range of fundraising food vendors, kids entertainment with several bouncy castles, the highest definition outdoor LED screen in the South Island, and the chance for some last minute Christmas shopping. 

Around 7:00pm; all eyes to the stage as under police supervision we make the draw, and one lucky local walks away with $10,000 Cash for Christmas! Note: You MUST be there on the night to win. Click here for details. 
The atmosphere will be electric, and we look forward to changing someone's life with $10,000 this Christmas. 

A quick note on parking - If driving to the event, we suggest car-pooling where possible. We suggest to park in the public spaces by Gore TV and Radio on Mersey Street (only cross the rail tracks at the level crossing), or along Fairfield Street. We ask you please refrain from parking in the New World and Smiths City carparks, out of courtesy for their patrons. We will have marshals helping to patrol this.

MLT Christmas at the Theatre - Sunday 22 December
The show that stemmed from the successful annual event in Invercargill, and has drawn a capacity audience ever since! Hokonui is proud to support Christmas at the Theatre, starting 2pm. For tickets, see the venue St James Gore, or book at iTicket. Also listen to Luke Howden Breakfast 6am-10am for your chance to win!

ILT Christmas Variety Show - Sunday 22 December
More than 200 performers will be involved in a wide selection of Christmas and hit songs. At ILT Stadium Southland from 6pm. The show is always a sell-out. Get in quick. Tickets $18.50 for adults, $12.50 for kids from ILT Stadium Southland. 

Gore Christmas at the Races - Sunday 22 December
Hokonui is proud to support Tapanui Racing Club for their Christmas at the Races, at Gore Raceway. Gates open 11am, adults GA just $20. Listen to Luke Howden Breakfast for your chance to win tickets.  ​