Business talent recognised at North’s annual awards
Teen student wins top honours with handmade baby gift bags for new mothers
Santana Hobson inspired judges with her business creation, becoming Top Energy YES Northland Company of the Year for the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme.
Hobson, a 19-year-old student of Kaikohe’s Hiwa i Te Rangi (Northland College School for Young Parents), created Peepi Packs, handmade baby gift bags for new mothers.
To win the regional title, Hobson, with her Peepi Packs completed a variety of business milestones during the year culminating in pitching the business to a panel of judges at the Copthorne Hotel in Waitangi.
The judging panel included Pete Gregory and Jules Smith of Vinery Ltd from Whanga¯ rei, Geraldine “Chook” Henare of Mediaworks, Charlotte Rowe of Bluefix Boatworks, Ervin Mehta of Morgan Campbell and
Richard Gorrett of Crimson Education, along with Terry Shubkin, chief executive at Young Enterprise.
Hobson will head to Wellington on December 4 to vie for the title of the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme Company of the Year in the national final.
Twenty-one regional champions from across New Zealand will compete at the final and attend the awards dinner at TSB Arena the same day.
Hobson said she is keen to further develop her business idea.
“I want to carry on building this company and make it grow. For the first year I will continue to make the items myself but hopefully, in the future, the business will grow so that it doesn’t just support me and my wha¯ nau but other people in the community.”
Twenty-year-old Alisha Pai from Kerikeri, also a Hiwa i Te Rangi student, was also thrilled when she won the National Excellence Award for her Eco-Kits Ma¯ ori themed baby book.
The other National Excellence
Award winners were Mud Tech of Kaitaia Abundant Life School and Kaitaia College.
More than 4000 students have taken part in the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme this year, creating more than 1000 real-life businesses.
The one-year programme gives students an authentic learning experience which connects them with their community.
Tasty event
Live music, cooking demonstrations, a great selection of Northland craft beer and wine and local produce will be on offer at the Tastes of the North Garden Party on November 30.
Auckland band Coachella will also play at the event, which is in its third year, and there will be lawn games on the front lawn of the Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands from 11am-6pm.
Far North celebrity chef Anna Valentine will be cooking up a storm with her healthy food demonstrations too.
The creator of the first commercial kumara chips has produced beautiful seasonal cookbooks and runs the popular Veggie Tree cooking school from her home in Kaeo.
Tickets from eventfinda.co.nz
Give blood
Head along to the Turner Centre to give the priceless gift of blood later this month.
The New Zealand Blood Service’s blood drive is on November 25 from 1pm-6pm and on November 26 from 9am-3pm.
Giving blood is a lifesaver — even the best trained medical personnel, using the most advanced equipment can become helpless in the event a patient needs blood.
Yet figures show that fewer than 4 per cent of all possible donors in New Zealand actually roll their sleeves up and give each year.
To book an appointment email nzblood.co.nz or phone 0800 448 325.
Music performance
Aroha Music Society will close the 2019 season with a performance by the Tres Cordes Piano Trio on November 16.
Tomas Hurnik, Cathy Irons and