It’s all systems glow for stage show

Giant glow-in-the-dark puppets will take centre stage during Matariki after the Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board granted event organisers $2000 during its April meeting.

The Living Theatre Charitable Trust is bringing its Badjelly the Witch Glow Show to the Far North, with more than 400 tamariki from around Kaikohe and Kerikeri expected to enjoy the event during the July school holidays.

Organisers say they are keen to give a group of local children, who wouldn’t usually get the opportunity to attend such an event, access to the production as part of a school holiday event.

The Badjelly the Witch Glow Show, based on Spike Milligan’s book, will be staged at the Turner Centre, Kerikeri, on 8 July 2024.

The community board also granted $2500 to the Waimamaku Community Garden to buy materials and equipment for the day-to-day running of its garden and to cover the costs of a koha for the person who mows around the garden.

The group has run several well-attended workshops where gardening skills are shared, and the money from the community board will also go towards more events.

Also benefiting from the community board funding was the Momentum Trust, which was granted $2145 for two one-day life and financial programmes at the Kaikohe Probation Centre in May.

The Momentum Trust has partnered with Life101 to run programmes that support people recently released from prison or serving community sentences. The programmes help with financial management, build essential life skills, and provide learning tools and strategies to tackle day-to-day challenges.

The community board also granted $4000 to the R Tucker Thompson Youth Sailing Trust for its youth development scheme based in the Bay of Islands. The programme aims to empower young people by teaching them about life through the sea.

The programme takes young people aged 14-18 on a seven-day voyage on the iconic tall ship, the R Tucker Thompson. The hands-on nature of the scheme allows students to gain self-confidence and a better understanding of their strengths, as well as teamwork and leadership skills, as they take on the challenges of sailing a tall ship and living at sea.