A simple question from a Katikati 5-year-old sparked a festive mission by her father to secure a star for their community’s Christmas tree, to be put up this month.

Each year a group of helpers and Katch Katikati put up the Christmas tree outside Katikati War Memorial Hall on the main street.

The landmark signals the beginning of the festive season – but it has never had a decoration at the top.

Traditionally, many Kiwis place a star at the top of their Christmas trees to represent the Star of Bethlehem from the biblical Nativity story.

The Katch Katikati/Visitor Information Centre team in front the Christmas tree outside Katikati Memorial Hall in a past year

Last year Brendan Connelly, who owns Beacon Engineering Katikati, was helping put up the tree with his 5-year-old daughter Megan.

“She asked if she could put the star on top and I was like, ‘What star?’ She told me, ‘Dad, every Christmas tree has a star on top’,” Brendan said with a laugh. “It got me thinking.”

In haste he tried to find a suitable star but with Christmas close, they were sold out, he said.

This June he pitched the idea to Katch Katikati promotions manager Jacqui Knight.

“She was thrilled that we were happy to take it on.”

Brendan went searching and purchased a 1.2m-tall star with LED lighting from Celebrations New Zealand.

He has since found seven local businesses, along with his own, to fund the star’s purchase.

They are Bridgestone Katikati, FCL Katikati, Buzz Apiaries Ltd, Northern Automotive, Earthforce Nursery, Western Bay Earthworks and S White Earthmoving, and Brendan’s Beacon Engineering Katikati.

Now, a year later, Brendan, Megan and younger sister Aimee plan to help put their community’s Christmas tree up on November 10 – and the star on top!

Megan Connelly, 6 and her younger sister Aimee Connnelly, 4, with the new star for Katikati’s Christmas tree. Photo / Merle Cave

“Megan is very excited this year to help put up the tree,” her mother Kelly Connelly said. “She can’t wait to help!”

Knight said Katikati’s Christmas tree is owned and managed by Katch Katikati.

“We purchased it in 2015 with a grant from TECT [now called Manawa Trust]. We, along with the Katikati War Memorial Hall, have also purchased additional garlands and decorations,” she said.

“It’s fantastic that Brendan contacted us about purchasing the star to finish off the tree. We are all about community involvement and engagement and this is the perfect example. We are always looking for value add to anything that we do, so this is like the icing on the cake!”

Knight said the Katikati Floral Art Group help with the annual installation, which is “another great collaboration to bring joy to the town”.