TOASTMASTERS

Tohi Toastmasters at Auckland University of Technology has been recognised as New Zealand’s first chartered bilingual te reo Maori/english toastmasters club. The club was established in 2016 in an aim to empower its members to speak te reo with confidence. The group has taken on the challenge of public speaking in another language. President Trent Dallas said the club encouraged members to step outside of their comfort zone. ‘‘The Tohi motto is ‘Nau mai, te hapa’ - we welcome mistakes,’’ he said. The club enabled attendees to improve their knowledge and proficiency in te reo.

KIDS VOTING

More school students than ever before will be running their own mock elections this September. More than 100,000 students from 541 schools have registered for the Electoral Commission’s Kids Voting programme. Chief electoral officer Alicia Wright said the high number of early registrations showed schools were keen to teach their students about the electoral process. The programme provides schools with the resources needed for students to run a mock election. Students learn about and vote for real candidates and parties and then compare the results with the outcome of the General Election. Wright said it helped the students understand the process and get ready to vote when they turn 18.

PROJECT GLOW WEAR

The race is on as creatives across the country have seven weeks left to submit designs in the second Project Glow Wear, a reflective design competition all about illuminating people on bike and foot. The competition challenges designers and creatives to take everyday clothing and make it avant-garde. All entries must include reflective elements that highlight the wearer as they ride their bikes on their evening and early morning journeys. The competition also aims to increase awareness of the effectiveness of reflective elements in clothing to increasing the visibility of people in the hours between dusk and dawn. Entries close on July 6 and a runway show will be held in August.