It was a time for reflection and a time for celebration.
Waitaki marked Easter weekend with excitement for chocolate-loving children, ecumenical services for Oamaru’s churches and a sunset ode to a mother with her favourite hymn.
Kakanui School began the celebrations a little earlier than most with its annual Easter egg hunt last Thursday.
Since 2015 the Easter bunny has been slipping into the school in the dead of night, leaving an array of chocolate treats for the children to find.
It started when principal Ann Roughan found a note that had been slid under the door of the school office that said there were was an assortment of Easter chocolate hidden around the school. It was signed by the "Kakanui Easter Bunny".
The bunny had visited almost every year since and, to this day, they still did not know who was behind it all, Ms Roughan said.
"Everybody thinks it’s me. In fact even my daughter thinks it’s me. It’s not."
Pupils thought they had caught the bunny leaving one year.
"There was a real rabbit seen going out of the car-park and one of the kids wondered if that was the Easter bunny."
To preserve the identity of the Easter bunny, Ms Roughan even turned off the security cameras overnight so they were not caught.
"We do want to know, but we’d rather they come to us."
Ninety-five big rabbits, 248 marshmallow eggs and 452 milk chocolate eggs were shared among the 54 pupils.
On the morning of Good Friday Oamaru’s combined churches joined together at St Patrick’s Basilica for the ecumenical Walk of the Cross.
Catholic church member Nicola Mountain said everybody was welcome to reflect and pray on the 14 stations of the cross, which adorn the basilica walls in relief form.
It was accompanied by a repetitive chant playing in the background, called a taize.
The cross was carried along Thames St and up to St Luke’s Anglican Church in Tees St, where a service was held.
There were also celebrations at St Andrew’s Maheno and St Luke’s on Sunday.
That evening the North Otago Highland Pipe Band continued its recently adopted tradition of playing Amazing Grace at sunset atop Lookout Point.
The event has been held since 2021, when a former Oamaru man living in the United States made a donation to the band and requested they hold a tribute to his mother.
An overcast sky made for a dull sunset, but the performance was still enjoyed by about 200 attendees.
The man and his family, who wanted to remain anonymous, continued to sponsor the event.
He lived in the town with his family during the 1950s and ’60s.
"The pipe band is such a treasure for the town that is itself such a very special place.
"My family and I are delighted to share with so many others remembering our mothers."
President Bill Kingan said they never knew if the man would send through a donation each year, which was part of the fun.
"It’s a little bit of mystery, which is how we like it."
