The five Pakuranga College students that will represent New Zealand at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Phoenix, Arizona, back, from left, Peyton Haugh, Liam Jennings, Bianca Poru and, front, from left, Skyler Vollenhoven and Emily Cooper.
Seven east Auckland students will put their moves to the test when they represent New Zealand at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Phoenix, Arizona, next month.
Pakuranga College’s Liam Jennings, Bianca Poru, Peyton Haugh, Emily Cooper and Skyler Vollenhoven will compete in four different dance crews.
While the competition at the worlds is intense, the rivalry is friendly at home, with Liam, Bianca, Peyton and Emily all collaborating in the Pakuranga College hip hop group.
Howick College year nine students Georgia Delany and Max Homan will also be competing.
More than three thousand of the world’s best dancers from more than 55 different countries will come together for the World Hip Hop Dance Championship from July 30 to August 6.
For Bianca, this will be her third trip to the worlds, competing with megacrew Republic for the second time. Her first experience was in the junior division in 2019, with her group Beast placing 13th.
“Having experience at Worlds is definitely an advantage. Knowing the processes will really allow me to focus on my dancing,” she says.
“Megacrews have up to 30 dancers so it’s very important that we’re all laser-focused on our moves and timing.
“Right now, the crew is rehearsing four hours a week together, but that will ramp up massively in the next month.”
For Liam, Peyton, Emily and Skyler, this is their first time at the worlds. However, Liam will have 2022 Pakuranga College alum, Tate Miller, for guidance as they dance together in Yung ID.
The group placed second in the Junior Varsity Megacrew division at the worlds last year and expectations for another podium placing are high.
“Currently, rehearsals are 20 hours a week, it’s huge, but I can’t wait,” says Liam.
The group has already had a taste of success locally, winning their category at Hip Hop International (HHI) New Zealand, the competition to qualify for thew worlds.
Emily and Skyler will be dancing together in the junior division for the all-girl group, Scouts.
Emily has been dancing hip hop for four years and has an extensive dance background, while Skyler is a natural talent, having been involved in hip hop for a year.
The girls’ Sundays from now until the competition are taken up with dance bootcamps, on top of six hours of training during the week.
“We’re both very excited to represent New Zealand at worlds. Rehearsals take up a lot of time, but it’s worth it to experience dancing at this level,” Emily says.
Skyler adds, “We both hope to be able to come back to worlds in future years and keep representing New Zealand.”
Meanwhile, Peyton will have a full schedule in Phoenix, competing in two groups, the megacrew Saintz, which won its division at HHI New Zealand, and Lil Saintz competing in the varsity category.
“I’m training 22 hours a week across both my groups. Not just choreography, but fitness and strength too.
“If I’m not at school, I’m training, basically. It’s very full-on but I can see improvements in my dance already and I hope it will give my crews an edge and a top result,” she says.
Peyton is looking forward to experiencing dance culture from around the globe while she is at the worlds. As well as the competition, there are workshops for dancers to learn new moves and styles.
“It will be great to learn from the best and bring some new moves back to the college to share with our hip hop group,” she says.
We are a women’s club which enjoys having fun and forming friendships with like-minded women while making a difference in our local community. We meet the fourth Wednesday of the month at the Highland Park Community Centre at 7.30pm. Next meeting is on July 26. For more info contact Carmen, 027 773 6778.
Howick U3A
Mutiny or Protest? Putin v Prigozhin? What is happening in Russia? Is this the beginning of the end for Putin or Prigozhin? On Wednesday, July 10, Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations at Auckland University, Stephen Hoadley, will discuss “An Update on Putin’s War” at the Howick Bowling Club in Selwyn Road, meeting commencing at 9.30am. Visitors and those thinking of joining are welcome. For further information phone Jan 027 220 3777.
Bowling club
Bucklands Beach Bowling Club, 21 Morrow Ave. Every Thursday Triples Tournament, 9.30am, good prizes. Team entries, any combination or single entry, phone Ted Senner, 027 226 0062. Tuesdays 1pm, 2 games. Contact Carol Ansley phone 600 1221, mob 021 253 4899. Inclement weather, phone information 534 4574.
Get out and about during July
Art in all its forms is on show at our galleries and there are fun times to be had at local hospitality, shopping and entertainment venues in east Auckland. More info can be found on www.eastaucklandtourism.co.nz/what-s-on/events.
Women’s dinner club
The Howick Women’s Dinner Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month for dinner and an interesting talk on a wide range of subjects. Our next meeting is Wednesday, July 12. If you are keen to hear more, email Susan on noelandsusanlynn@gmail.com.
Eastern District Country Music Club
Wednesday, July 12, 7pm. Everyone is welcome to listen to our live music or come and sing or play an instrument. Bucklands and Eastern Beaches War Memorial Hall, Wharf Road, Bucklands Beach. Non-members $5. For more information, phone Bev on
021 11 56 866.
Genealogists
The next meeting of the Howick Branch of the NZSG is on Saturday, July 8 at St Andrew’s Church Centre, Vincent Street, Howick at 1.30pm. Robyn Williams will speak on the many resources available for family history on the NZSG website. Door charge $5. Visitors welcome. For further information phone 576-4715 or 576-5400.
Bucklands Beach Intermediate students do their thing at Eastern Beach.
Bucklands Beach Intermediate’s [BBI] community service Leos – linked to service group the Lions] took on a beach clean-up at Eastern Beach.
The student group went along with Leos lead teacher Nicola Reid, teacher aide Jayne Catford and student teacher Andrew Lee, last week walking from BBI to nearby Eastern Beach hunting for litter.
“We were all amazed at how very clean our nearest beach was,” said Reid.
“We had to scour the beach for our rubbish finds. It was a fabulously sunny winter’s day and, as we enjoyed the weather, we all pondered on when we could return for another clean-up.
“We were all thinking about rubbish that is usually present at beaches in the summertime like iceblock wrappers and sticks.
The groups other initiatives include collecting books for Women’s Refuge, stationery collections for Pacific Island schools, crocheting blankets and projects for the SPCA.
The current cost of fuel in east Auckland is similar to the prices in February 2022. Times file photo Wayne Martin
It hasn’t taken long for east Auckland motorists to feel more pain at the pump after the Labour Government reinstated the 25 cents per litre petrol excise tax.
The tax went back onto fuel across the country on July 1 following a 15-month suspension.
According to the Gaspy fuel price app, the cheapest 91 octane petrol in the local community, as of July 3, is being sold at Gull in Ti Rakau Drive, East Tamaki, for $2.67 a litre.
The most expensive is at Caltex in Whitford Road, Somerville, for $2.78 a litre.
The cheapest 91 octane petrol in Auckland is at Mobile Epsom in Manukau Road, at $2.55 a litre, while the priciest is at Challenge Waiheke, at $3.53.
Reintroduction of the petrol excise tax isn’t the only recent change set to worsen the cost of living crisis.
Half-price public transport for users aged 25 years and older has also come to an end, while NZ Post has increased the cost of mailing a standard letter from $1.70 to $2, and alcohol excise tax rates have increased 6.6 per cent.
Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni says the Government has rolled out a range of targeted measures from July 1 to help to counter the cost of living crisis.
They include the end of the $5 prescription co-payment for medicines; free public transport for children aged under 13 and half-priced for people under 25 years old; and funding for driver licence support services, among others.
“Our cost-of-living measures announced in the Budget will have real long-term benefits, particularly by making most prescriptions free,” Sepuloni says.
“An estimated three million people … will no longer have to worry about the cost of collecting medication.
“We’re also supporting one million low-income New Zealanders with a Community Services Card by making public transport more affordable for them.”
Another initiative taking effect is the Government’s Child Support Pass On change.
From August 22 about 41,500 sole-parent families will receive an average of $65 per week of child support, with a median gain of $24 per week.
National Party deputy leader and finance spokesperson Nicola Willis says the fuel price hike will cause problems for numerous New Zealanders.
“Not only will Kiwis be hit by the $15 extra to fill up the tank of an average car, the price hikes will likely hit sausage rolls, bread, butter, and other basic food items that Kiwi families are already struggling to pay,” she says.
“Labour is ripping off this Band-Aid policy in one painful swoop.
“The damaging follow-on effects of the price hike will likely be felt across the wider economy and hit household budgets hard.
“Worse, the inflationary impact will come at time when the recession is hitting home.
“We can expect this pain at the pump to damage inflationary expectations and keep interest rates high.”
First place in the Estuary Art and Ecology Awards announced at an awards ceremony on Saturday is the work Suspended Deposits by Lisa Bate.
Lisa Bate’s entry, entitled Suspended Deposits, has won the 17th annual Estuary Art and Ecology Awards.
The work makes reference to findings of trace pollutants of heavy metals, found in sediment inside the Tāmaki Estuary waterways.
Bate used glass to demonstrate how the contaminants, from run-off entering the water, is then distributed by tidal currents.
Glass, explains Bate, when in its molten, fluid state, shares similar qualities to water.
“The opacity in the three glass panels transition in appearance from clear to cloudy, which suggests murky polluted pools of water.
“Glass manufacturing uses metal oxides to produce the various colours, the outflow of glass during a kiln firing has caused the glasses to merge on the kiln shelf and reacted chaotically, leaving behind this result.”
Lisa Bate and her artwork.
Second place went to Daisy Nicholas and her work Reflective Tides, a large-scale crystallisation which explores the beauty that remains in fragments among the Tāmaki Estuary.
It is an extension of her last year’s work, exploring pollutants of the estuary with a large-scale cyanotype.
Third Place went to Brendan Kitto for his entry Tāmaki Estuary (2023).
Kitto’s photography focuses on time and place.
His photographs encapsulate street/landscapes that connect to each other via personal or historic connections.
Merits were awarded to Kiran McKinnon for Down Deep and Andrew Rankin for California Dreaming.
Exhibition of finalists runs until August 26 in the Malcolm Smith Gallery at Uxbridge Arts and Culture.
These entries will also be open for the People’s Award sponsored by the Rice Family Partnership.
Tim Bubb holds examples of the military medals stolen from his family’s home on June 28. Times photo Chris Harrowell
A wedding ring and military medals are among the precious items stolen from an east Auckland house during a brazen daylight burglary.
Police are investigating the theft at the home of Tim and Charmaine Bubb in Mirrabooka Avenue, Botany Downs, sometime before midday on June 28.
It’s one of at least seven burglaries in Botany Downs reported to police in the past two months.
The Bubbs, who are from South Africa, were at work at the time.
They were alerted to the break-in by a neighbour, who saw a person wearing a hooded top walk out the property’s front door and get into a vehicle parked a short distance away.
“They realised something was wrong,” Tim says.
“They came in and looked around and our house had been looted.
“It’s a mess. They pinched my family’s medals going back to the Boer War.
“They took my medals, my grandfather’s medals and my great-grandfather’s medals.”
The security stays on several windows had been broken, which may indicate how the thief entered the property.
They went through jewellery boxes in a bedroom and left anything they didn’t want to steal lying on a bed.
“He took my wife’s jewellery and went through our drawers systematically,” Tim says.
“He picked out my wife’s best jewellery and took that.
“Her bracelets, her bangles, her wedding ring, which has got a nice diamond on it.
“My spare wallet, which was a gift from my mother, was lying in the drawer.
“He opened that up and had a good look in it. He knew what he was looking for.
“He went through everything. Spread it all out and picked the jewellery up. We feel violated.”
Among the most precious items stolen are military medals earned by Tim and his relatives on both sides of the family.
They include his grandfather’s medals for service in Italy during World War II and Queen’s South Africa Medals awarded to his great-grandfathers.
“You can see he’s gone through everything,” Tim says of the thief.
“He’s gone through all my mementoes. These things are priceless to me.
“What he’s taken, no money can buy. To me it’s devastating.”
Tim says he’s alerted medal dealers about the theft.
His family moved from South Africa to New Zealand in search of a better life, he says.
“We never had the stuff stolen there that we’ve had stolen here.”
Counties Manukau East Police area prevention manager, Inspector Rakana Cook, says neighbours reported suspicious activity at the address “with an unfamiliar man standing near the open front door”.
“This man then ran towards a white vehicle and drove away.
“It has since been reported to police that jewellery has been taken from the property.
“Police have visited the property and conducted a forensic examination.
“Enquires remain ongoing into the burglary.”
Cook says police acknowledge how invasive residential burglaries are on their victims.
He assures residents police are working hard to prevent such crimes and other instances of harm in the area.
People with information on the burglary of a house in Mirrabooka Avenue, Botany Downs, on June 28 can phone police on 105.
Alternatively, phone the free and anonymous Crimestoppers tip-off line on 0800 555 111.
If you have a little time on your hands, and have been considering volunteer work, think about working for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau Pakuranga/Botany.
Volunteer week took place from June 18-24, in order to recognise the important work that volunteers are doing in the community.
If you have a little time on your hands, and have been considering volunteer work, think about working for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau Pakuranga/Botany.
We have a range of roles, either as an interviewer or in assisting with administration, social media, board member, legal clinic receptionist. We work with a wide variety of clients on the phone, by email or in person, dealing with a range of issues ranging from consumer and employment problems to neighbourhood disputes and more.
CAB provides an initial induction course, including how to use our database to find information, and we also provide ongoing training. Interviewers come from all walks of life, all ages and from many different cultures.
The work is interesting and varied and only involves a commitment of a few hours each week.
So, if you have some time, basic computer skills and an interest in people and their issues, and live in the Pakuranga or Botany area, give our Pakuranga manager a call between 9.30am and 4pm on 5768331 or email manager.pakauranga@cab.org.nz to find out more.
This Solutions Column has been compiled by Mary and is a regular Times editorial from the Pakuranga Citizens Advice Bureau. Email enquiries.pakuranga@cab.org.nz or Visit us at the Library Building, Pakuranga, Phone 576 8331 and at Botany Citizens Advice Bureau, rear Food Court Entrance, Botany Town Centre, Phone 271 5382 or 0800 367 222 for free, confidential and informative help.
Among the cast of Howick Little Theatre’s production of the play A Murder Is Announced are actors Stephanie Liebert, playing Miss Marple, and Barrie Graham, as Inspector Craddock. Photo supplied Andrew Johnson
An intriguing tale by the ‘Queen of Crime’ will keep audiences guessing as a village’s resident’s gather in anticipation of witnessing a person’s untimely demise.
Howick Little Theatre is preparing to stage a production of Agatha Christie’s classic mystery A Murder Is Announced.
It’s directed by Matthew Cousins and runs from July 8-29.
Christie is the best-selling fiction writer of all time.
A Murder Is Announced features one of her most famous fictional characters, the amateur sleuth Jane Marple.
The production is adapted for the stage by Leslie Darbon with the story described as a fine example of Christie’s storytelling prowess.
Its plot is sparked by a curious advertisement in the local gazette of the quaint village of Chipping Cleghorn in the UK.
It states: “A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 13th, at Little Paddocks, at 6.30pm.”
As the village’s residents gather in a house at the specified time, the lights abruptly go out, turning a supposed prank into a chilling reality.
Cousins says the play is a “light-hearted whodunit”.
“It is very funny and pacy with lots of twists and red herrings to keep people guessing.
“It’s a visit to a simpler time, with funny and likable characters. It’s timeless in that way.
“I’ve been fortunate to get such a great cast. They’re very experienced and talented.
“We often have to refocus because we’re enjoying ourselves so much.”
The cast includes Carleena Walsh as the character Letitia Blacklock, who owns the house hosting the announced murder.
She stars alongside Jo Crichton, playing her companion Dora ‘Bunny’ Bunner.
Stephanie Liebert is stepping into the iconic shoes of Miss Marple, the ever-curious amateur sleuth.
It wouldn’t be a Christie play without a wide variety of characters to keep audience members guessing, with talented actors Emily Briggs, James Calverley, Lisa Inman, Shelby Sparks, Viktoria Jowers-Wilding, John Edwards, Stephen Moratti, and Barrie Graham taking on roles also.
Theatre committee member Andrew Johnson says Christie has enthralled readers and viewers alike with her masterfully-crafted stories for more than 70 years.
“At the heart of her enduring popularity is the combination of suspense, intrigue, and a dash of humour that keeps audiences guessing until the very end.
“The enduring appeal of Christie’s mysteries are undisputed, and the cast and crew at Howick Little Theatre found themselves a little surprised that this was the theatre’s first-ever staging of a Miss Marple mystery.”
A Murder Is Announced
Directed by Matthew Cousins
Howick Little Theatre, 1 Sir Lloyd Drive, Pakuranga
Season: July 8-29, with shows at 8pm and 2pm matinees on July 9 and July 16.
Convenor of the Blanket Appeal Bill Charkow with volunteeers from charity Littlemore accepting the blankets for babies.
The Rotary Club of Howick’s Blankets 4 Kids 4 Winter annual appeal has highlighted once again the generosity of the Howick community.
Despite the community having already responded generously to those impacted by flooding in January and Cyclone Gabrielle, the babies and children in the wider community will again benefit from that same spirit of caring and generosity.
“From knitters at home, knitting groups, and local businesses, all demonstrated that people really care,” Howick Rotary Club president Madeleine East said.
“Many, who did not have excess, nevertheless purchased new blankets for the appeal in May.”
Around 800 blankets were donated and these have been distributed to four charities – Stand Children’s Services, Half Moon Bay; All Saints Church, Howick; Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Howick and Littlemore, a charity which distributed the donated, hand-knitted blankets to families in need who have babies under one year old.
“Howick Rotary Club is grateful to everyone who gave in one way or another, including tremendous support from the Howick Village Association, local businesses whose premises were drop off points, the East Tamaki Business Network group who raised a substantial amount of money from members which facilitated new blankets being purchased and donated by them,” East said.
“To all who donated to the appeal, the Rotary Club of Howick says thank you. We are proud to have facilitated and delivered blankets once again this year to those most in need.”
Edna Gibson has just celebrated her 100th birthday.
Howick’s Edna Gibson was still a regular at her gym at the age of 97.
It inspired others there and even earned her life membership.
Edna May Gibson (nee Pelling) has just celebrated her 100th birthday. She was born on June 21, 1923 in Islington, London.
Edna married Sidney Charles Gibson in April 1947 in Ilford, London and they had three children, Janet (dec), Andrew and Ian.
The family emigrated to New Zealand in March 1960 on the British ocean liner SS Orsova.
In 1962, after spending two years in Taumarunui, the family moved to Auckland and settled in Moore Street, Howick, living there for 15 years before moving to Eastern Beach.
The family immersed themselves in all that Howick and the surrounding areas could offer a growing family.
Edna worked at the Post Office Telephone Exchange from 1962 -1973 and walked up from Moore Street to the exchange which was on Picton Street.
She then worked at Panasonic which was part of Fisher and Paykel until her retirement.
On her retirement she became a Probus Member of the Howick and Bucklands Beach Clubs.
Her retirement also saw Edna develop a love for the gym and would workout daily and eventually became a life member at the All Seasons Gym in Meadowlands.
She was often called an inspiration by her fellow gym-goers and was a regular member of their coffee outings.
She only stopped going to the gym when Covid struck New Zealand in 2020. She was 97 years old and had been driving herself to the gym from her apartment at the Bruce McLaren Retirement Village up to four times a week.
Edna still lives by herself in an independent apartment at the village.
She walks down to the daily lunches and still tries to make the Thursday happy hour at the village.
All her family and friends celebrated her birthday with an age difference from 100 years to six months and everything in between.
“What an amazing milestone,” granddaughter Susan High said.
The Polish Museum in Howick is participating in the East Auckland Art Trail exhibition.
Much-awaited goodies have arrived at the Polish Museum in Elliot Street, Howick in time for the school holidays.
A donation museum staff were expecting from Poland for the Polish Comics and their Creators exhibition arrived at the Polish Museum in Howick this week from cultural attaché Zofia Halwic at the Polish Embassy in Wellington.
She organised this donation for the Polish Museum’s participation in the East Auckland Art Trail exhibition and family craft workshops on these topics.
The themes coincide with the Polish Parliament’s 2023 Year of Polish Comics, as well as popular author and illustrator Henryk Chmielewski and his Copernicus adventure issue of the comic Tytus, Romek and A’Tomek in Polish and English.
These themes commemorate 100 years since the author’s birth and 550 years since the astronomer’s birth.
As well, the museum now has a copy of the Academy of Superheroes book about famous Poles with two boxed card game sets in English.
“I am sure these will be most appreciated by some of our younger visitors to the Polish Museum in Howick,” a museum spokesperson said.
More at https://www.facebook.com/polishembassynz/
Steph Trowill playing for her current Football club, Central United (Yellow).
A former Botany Downs Secondary College student will have the opportunity to represent her culture after being selected in the New Zealand Māori Senior Women’s Football team.
Steph Trowill of the Ngāti Pikiao iwi from Rotorua is part of the 20-strong side that will take on the Australian Indigenous side in three international matches across Queensland from July 1 to July 7.
Trowill says it is a great honour to be given the opportunity to represent her Māori culture.
“This opportunity not only allows me to showcase my ability as a footballer, but also presents a platform to promote and celebrate the rich traditions, values and history of the Māori people,” she says.
This is a historic moment for Māori Football Aotearoa, which was started by Phil Pickering-Parker in 2008, as it marks the organisation’s first overseas series.
“It is an opportunity to hopefully inspire future generations and instil a sense of pride and belonging in Māori youth, encouraging them to embrace their cultural heritage and pursue their dreams with passion and determination,” Trowill says.
This is the second time Trowill has been selected for the side, previously playing in the inaugural campaign against the Australian Indigenous in 2018. Back then, it was only a one game series, which the New Zealand Māori Women won 5-0.
“What Māori Football Aotearoa is doing as an organisation is huge. They are creating opportunities and pathways for talented Māori, especially our young up and coming Māori, which has been seen in other sporting codes such as Rugby and Rugby League for many years,” says Trowill.
The 20-strong team is full of Māori talent from across New Zealand and even a couple of players based in Australia.
Trowill first kitted up for the New Zealand Māori Senior Women’s side in 2018.
But Trowill says this trip goes beyond just playing Football and is a chance for players to come together and embrace their Māori Whakapapa and culture.
“Football has the power to bring people together from diverse backgrounds and it will be great to connect and learn,” she says.
Following the international tour in Australia, Māori Football Aotearoa will have Youth U18 teams competing against Hawaii in Auckland.
This is Trowill’s second season back after succumbing to a foot injury in 2014 which prompted three separate surgeries in 2016, 2018 and 2021.
She formerly represented the New Zealand Secondary School Girls’ team in 2013 and played National League Football for Auckland. Trowill now plays for Central United in the Lotto NRFL Women’s Championship.
“It was a long and tough eight years both mentally and physically during that period of injury and operations. It is honestly an absolute relief to be walking and running around pain free again.
“My main goal now is to just enjoy the sport for what it is. Enjoy being able to take to the field with mates and play the game I love and not take it, or anything, for granted,” she says.
Auckland U55kg rugby champions Somerville Intermediate.
Somerville Intermediate’s U55kg side has won the Auckland Rugby Championships.
After winning the South Eastern Zone (SEZ) tournament on June 9, the rugby team was able to compete in the Auckland Championships at Marist Rugby Club grounds in Panmure, on June 20.
The SEZ wins were against Farm Cove Intermediate 10-5, Bucklands Beach Intermediate 44-0, Elim 27-0 and the final against Saint Kentigern 24-0.
Their first pool game in the Auckland championships was against Henderson which was an emphatic win.
The team was switched on right from the start and won the game 43-0. Next, they faced De La Salle College.
After scoring a couple of quick tries, De La Salle hit back with a couple of their own.
The Somerville Intermediate team quickly took control again, winning 31-10.
Their third pool game was against an aggressive team from Otahuhu Intermediate.
Somerville Intermediate quickly dominated all facets of the game and won convincingly, 30-0.
Playing for first or second place in the last game of the day, they faced a well-drilled team from Sacred Heart.
“Our team was determined to win after losing to them in the final last year,” said Somerville Intermediate U55kg coach Paul Knight.
“In the first half, we scored a try first before they hit back with a try and conversion. At half time, Sacred Heart were leading 7-5.
“In the second half, our team showed tremendous resilience and resolve to fight back and eventually win the final 15-7.
“Throughout the tournament, our team played skilful and disciplined rugby. Thank you to the parents who supported us and a special thanks to Gary Raffaelli for assisting with the coaching on the day.”
Meanwhile, Somerville Intermediate has been achieving highly across a number of sporting codes in the SEZ this term, including football, gymnastics, hockey and Futsal.
Howick College’s Cultural and Community Council Leaders, from left, Sehandu Maharage, Hope Milo, Zhara Croft and Kara Henderson.
Howick College’s theatre one again transformed into a hub of diverse flavours and cultural experiences as students and staff embarked on a delicious and educational food journey.
The college’s annual International Food Festival is one of the school’s major charity fundraisers.
Organised by the cultural and community councils, this year’s event on June 16 surpassed all previous records.
With 30 stalls selling food from every corner of the globe, $2630 was raised for various charities including Ronald McDonald House, St John’s Ambulance, The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, the SPCA, Blind Low Vision NZ and The Child Cancer Foundation.
Visitors were greeted by an excited and bustling food market where vendors wore traditional dress and stalls were decorated to showcase the unique cultural heritage of each nation on display.
Whether it was fragrant curries from India, savoury sushi rolls from Japan, hearty pizzas from Italy or flavourful nachos from Mexico, ticket holders were spoilt for choice as they indulged in the many mouthwatering dishes on offer.
Community Council leaders Sehandu Maharage and Kara Henderson observed that food has power.
“The festival fosters a sense of community and unity. People from different backgrounds came together, sharing stories, laughter and delicious food. Food bridges gaps, creates connections, and celebrates the richness of human diversity,” they said.
Cultural Council leaders Hope Milo and Zhara Croft share this sentiment.
“The festival helps students feel like their identities are embraced and celebrated by their teachers and peers. It makes our school a place where they feel welcome, where they have a sense of belonging and can be proud of their heritage,” they said.
The involvement of parents, whānau, and local businesses was also an immense help in making the event such a success.
“From offering their homes as a place for students to cook, to helping adorn stalls with cultural decorations, to the generous donations of ingredients and money, we are reminded that together we are stronger,” Milo says.
