Success for school night market

 

The forecast was for rain but it was not enough to stop eager shoppers from attending Mangawhai Beach School’s (MBS) first Friday night market back in late September. 

Flax weaving, plant art, massages, face painting, a variety of food and clothing, bric-a-brac, fishing supplies and two stalls from Otamatea College’s Year 11 student entrepreneurs, who are learning the ropes of developing and running a business, lined the school’s hall for the opening market. 

Mangawhai Plastic-free was also on hand to encourage the area’s vision of going plastic-free and the use of cloth bags.

Although the car boot sale had to be cancelled due to the wet weather, stall holders inside the hall were said to be ‘very happy’ with the outcome and all proceeds collected from stall fees were given to the school. 

Keep an eye out for dates for the next MBS night market.

- WORDS/PHOTOS/Julia Wade


1: Otamatea students Kelly Huband and Kayla Reid with their business ‘Body Bliss’, featuring natural body products including charcoal and lavender clay masks, strawberry lip balm and grapefruit body scrubs, all home-crafted by their own hand. 
2: Shoppers, especially the younger set, were drawn to the colourful packages of Prismatic Parcels as well a large jar of beanjellys up for grabs to the nearest count, from creative Otamatea business students (from left) Natasha Partridge, Bipasa Patel, Toni Tornquist and Hamish Ferguson.
3: Kokodamas and gardening art by Granny’s Gardening Services, Gail Edmiston, formed an eye-catching display and evoking curiosity from shoppers. 
4: Attractive and practical flax woven shopping baskets were on sale to support Mangawhai’s quest to go plastic-bag free. Other items including lampshades and candle holders showcased the talent of local weaver Britta Conrad.  
5: MBS Principal Aaron Kemp (left) and Mangawhai based singer-songwriter Jon E Clist enhance the lively atmosphere with melody and song…
6: … as does new local and harmonist for 43 years, John Rawson. 
7: No shortage of shoppers at the indoor-outdoor market.
8:  Stallholders supported the new initiative, despite the rain.