Alex (10) was all smiles on Saturday when a trip Mrs Hill said was to do some Christmas shopping at The Warehouse in South Dunedin turned into something quite different.
"Mum tricked me, I didn't think there was going to be a presentation and that I was going to get a bike," Alex said, before proudly cycling around the car park.
"It was a good trick, though."
Alex was one of 50 Dunedin, Oamaru and Invercargill children presented with new bicycles as part of Variety The Children's Charity's annual Bikes for Kids Tour.
The children were nominated by their communities and schools as role models or for having overcome adverse circumstances, and were presented with their bicycles by a team led by Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull and Dunedin South MP Clare Curran.
Variety event co-ordinator Jodi Preston-Thomas said it cost about $200 to supply each bicycle, but the many smiles they brought were priceless.
As a child nearby hugged the handlebar of her new bicycle, Alex said she was looking forward to finishing the Christmas shopping.
"This weekend, I'm going to ride my new bike."
Bicycles will be given away in Christchurch this month.
