Messages of Aroha... sending support to creatives in our community

Love and kindness were on the minds of everyone who attended the launch for Messages of Aroha. Karakia, waiata, speeches and musical items warmed the hearts of those in attendance, including staff and students of John McGlashan College, parents, members of the Board of Trustees and Parents' and Friends' Association, Fringe HQ staff, and even Mayor Aaron Hawkins, who is a fierce advocate and supporter of the arts in Ōtepoti.

Year 13 students Tim Bradfield and Theo Hannagan curated the White Box performance space at the Fringe HQ earlier in the day, so that when everyone came together at 5.30pm, they could enjoy the fruits of their labour and view the exhibition from the view of George street, or through physical copies inside the warm confines of the Fringe. 

Our Head Prefect, Jack Timu, led proceedings with a beautiful karakia to bring everyone together (after some lovely entertainment from Year 12 student Rylan Urquhart), before staff and students sang our college waiata, Purea Nei. Arts Prefects, Theo Hannagan and Harold Gao, gave stirring speeches, outlining the wider impacts the pandemic has had on arts communities worldwide, as well as how it's impacted them as arts students. Their moving words resonated with us all. Year 10 students, Dan O'Brien and Lochlan Ing-Aram, performed their beautiful original musical piece, Totara, before Mr Porter had some quick remarks from the Senior Leadership Team and Jack Timu finished off proceedings with a closing karakia. We rounded things off with some kai and drinks, kindly donated by Julie Moyle of Moyle's Fresh Choice Green Island.

Messages of Aroha has had some great traction online this week, with a fantastic video and article in the STAR newspaper (click here to see Sending Support to Creatives) and M.O.A will also be featuring in Ara Toi's publication in the next few weeks. 

Make sure you check out Messages of Aroha in the White Box exhibition space at 19 George street for the entire month of July, or click here to view a digital copy online via our McGlashan Arts Hub.