It's a pinky pine Christmas time across Tauranga this month.

Three Tauranga students who have been studying at Otago University are asking locals to select their Christmas tree this year from their Pine Time Christmas Trees collection, with a proportion of funds raised going to help support Tauranga Breast Cancer.

'Since Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 we have been involved in giving back, particularly to Breast Cancer Support Services Tauranga,” says Ryan Forlong, who is doing a double major in commerce in marketing and management.

Fellow students Flynn Kelly is doing a biochemistry degree with a minor in psychology, while Bryn Fredheim is completing a bachelor of commerce with a double major in accounting and economics.

During their schooling years, the trio helped run fundraiser dinners and high teas wearing pink bow ties and ties, as well as prettifying and attiring themselves in pink feathers and tulle costumes to step out on the streets of Tauranga for the annual Hot Pink Walks.

'They weren't able to do the Papamoa Night Walk or the Hot Pink Walk this year for their fundraisers,” says Ryan.

The three wanted to raise some funds for their final year coming up in 2021 at Otago and saw the opportunity to also help the local breast cancer service at the same time.

'Since going to Otago University in 2018, the three of us haven't been able to participate in as many local fundraising events so we thought what better way to show our support than to donate a percentage of our Pine Time earnings towards Breast Cancer Support Services Tauranga,” says Ryan.

'We think it is important that as young men, we are involved and show our support because not only are 3300 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year but so are 25 men across New Zealand.”

They are delivering their three to four-year-old pine trees from Te Puna to Papamoa between 5pm – 8.30pm Monday to Thursday. For those who would prefer to select their own trees, the trio are set up at three locations across the Tauranga city.

Bryn is at Papamoa Plaza, Flynn is at the corner of Maunganui Rd and Grove Ave, and Ryan is at the Bethlehem Town Centre outside Options Gifts & Homewares. At each location the Pine Time Christmas Trees are sitting in buckets of water ready to go with new owners.

'We'll be selling up until Christmas unless we sell out in the last few days,” says Ryan.

Trees can be ordered online at: www.pinetimechristmastrees.com