There was so much happiness and laughter in the air that at times it felt as though half of east Auckland had turned out to this year’s Cockle Bay School Carnival.

The popular annual event was staged at the school on March 29 to raise money for its senior playground to be upgraded.

There was entertainment galore on offer including prizes, books and toys for sale, a ‘Willy Wonka’ room with cupcake-decorating, a ‘Haunted House’, bouncy castle, rides, a hairspray salon, temporary tattoos, games and science experiments, as well as sausage sizzle, hot chops, ice cream and candy floss.

There were also staff on hand from the police and Fire and Emergency NZ to talk to people about what they do and to give children the chance to sit in real emergency services vehicles.

Some of the children’s rides attracted long queues of people patiently awaiting their turn, but no one seemed to mind given the beautiful weather.

Lead organiser Carla Bickel took a moment out from the hustle and bustle of the event to tell the Times she and her helpers were “so pleased with the turnout”.

“A huge ‘thank you’ to the community for their support, especially our sponsors,” she says.

“There’s lots of families here who aren’t Cockle Bay School families.

“It’s just such great community support and it’s been lovely.”

Bickel says this year organisers made sure to bring in more candy floss and face-painters compared to last year due to high demand.

Online auctions run in the lead-up to the Carnival have been “very successful”, she says.

A happy Cockle Bay School principal Dorothy Bigwood describes the event as “a full community party”.

One of the day’s highlights for many would have been the dunk tank, which saw someone sitting on a plastic chair directly under a large bucket which was being fed by a hose.

When someone threw a hacky sack into a paddle connected to the dunk tank, the bottom of the bucket opened and the person sitting below it got drenched.

Various teachers and other volunteers took turns being dunked, as did Pakuranga MP and Health Minister Simeon Brown, who attended the Carnival with his two young daughters, Anna and Grace.

Just prior to taking his turn in the wet seat, Brown told the Times the Carnival is a “wonderful event”.

“Cockle Bay School does an amazing Carnival. Thousands of people have been through, and I hope the school has managed to raise lots of money for the school and the community.”

Brown was feeling “incredibly nervous” about being dunked, “but it’s not my first time”.

“I’m here to support the school and I look forward to everyone paying lots of money to pour water over me.”

When Brown was being dunked for what felt like the 50^th time, a crowd of people suddenly began moving across the school field toward the dunk tank.

They were trailing a smiling Prime Minister and Botany MP Christopher Luxon, who immediately picked up a hacky sack and began trying to drench Brown even more.

After succeeding in that task, Luxon took the time to talk to numerous children and their parents and pose for dozens of selfies.

Bickel says the school is anticipating it made over $60,000 from the event.