Kiwi the Engine and his friends are back at the Pleasant Point railway for another Easter after their first visit last year.

On Saturday there will be a special book launch of Kiwi the Engine and Friends find a little brown egg from 10.30am.

It is the first time a railway in New Zealand has commissioned a children's book and the team are stoked.

It kicks off the three days of running, where Kiwi and his carriages, Polly the Pukeko, Percy the Penguin and Tana the Tuatara will be trundling along the 2km line between the station at Pleasant Point and Keanes Crossing.

From 10.30am to 4pm on Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday they will be running under the guidance of the Funny Old Stationmaster, who is in charge of the weekend and makes sure the trains run to time with the help of his special and oversized gold watch

Throughout the weekend there will be a bouncy castle operating, a story corner, colouring in competition, the popular game of guessing the number of chocolates in the carriage lights and Kiwi will be there to speak to the kids.

As if that isn't enough, a local collector - likely to have the largest collection of 'Dr Who' memorabilia in New Zealand - will display part of his unique collection at Keanes Crossing over the three days.