Issue 17 • June 2012 - Waiariki Institute of Technology

The pressure cooker to national success
Practice makes perfect and, when
combined with perfect execution, a
winning opportunity is possible.
That’s the mantra driving Waiariki
representatives set to compete in this
year’s Nestlé Toque d’Or competition.
During the next couple of months
Rex Austria, Digraj Singh and Laura
Adriano will be put through the griller
by their tutors in Rotorua as they work
to perfect their skills and get ready for
the big day in Auckland on August 20.
“We’ll focus on developing our skills and
be ready for any challenge,” said Rex of
the prestigious national junior cooking
competition. “This is a learning process
and we get some more experience rather
than just the classroom.”
There are some 320 additional hours
of practice and perfecting the trio
that tutors Bart Vosse and Jonathan
Chemis (chefs) and Thomas George
(hospitality) will undertake.
Rex and Digraj are in their final year
of the Diploma in Culinary Arts
while Laura is in her final year of the
Diploma in Hospitality Management.
As well as their studies and practice, the
students are working in local industry
(Bistro 1284, Third Place Café, Skyline
and Wai Ora Spa) which is part of the
competition requirements.
Waiariki Academy of Singing and
Music was launched in early February
2011. When the students are not out
performing in the community, they
are putting much time and effort into
both their musical abilities and their
scholarly aspirations at Waiariki’s
Mokoia Campus in Rotorua.
The academy was set up to nurture the
incredible musical talent in the region.
“We had a very successful inaugural
year and so far this year, we’ve been
incredibly productive performancewise,
highlighted by a well-received
hour-long show at Lakeside Concert
in March,” says academy director
Richard Anaru.
The academy operates on a tiered
scholarship-based programme offering
Laura Adriano (centre) will lead the front of house activities in Toque d’Or
while Rex Austria (left) and Digraj (“DJ”) Baghela will run the kitchen.
On the big day the students will have
to make two entrees, two mains and
two desserts, from scratch to delivery,
in two and a half hours.
It is an absolute pressure cooker
environment and the national finals
are super competitive. Not only is
the team striving to better last year’s
Waiariki team results – a gold by
the chefs and a bronze in hospitality
– but Christchurch Polytechnic is
traditionally the team to beat.
To make the Waiariki team, the
students had to survive an intensive
series of cook-offs with their
Diploma in Hospitality Management
Dame Malvina provides inspiration
three levels of support to the scholars.
“The flexible and quality programme
has been developed to enable students
to gain a qualification at Waiariki
while focusing on their music at the
same time. Mentoring, workshops,
individual and group tuition are
included, and operate outside of the
regular curriculum which doesn’t
interfere with teaching hours.”
This year the academy boasts a kapa
haka team, choir ensemble and band,
as well as solo performers.
In early March, Waiariki proudly
announced the addition of a new
patron, Dame Malvina Major.
“To have the support of someone in
such standing as Dame Malvina is an
classmates. The brief was to see who
could handle pressure and how they
performed under it.
All three were spectators in Auckland
last year and returned home knowing
they wanted in on the action this year.
Like any team, they will rely on each
other with the chefs looking after the
cooking and food component of their
created menu while Laura tends to front
of house, selects the matching wines and
provides silver service to the judges.
Everything the three teammates do
must be timed to perfection and they
will be judged on how they move,
hygiene, professionalism and wastage.
Richard Anaru (standing toward left with arms crossed) and Waiariki Academy of Singing and Music students
performed at the year’s Lakeside concert in Rotorua.
honour and, well, nothing short of a
coup,” Mr Anaru says.
She has already invited the academy
to participate in reciprocal events on
her campus at Waikato University
where she is Senior Fellow of Music.
Having her involved with the academy
and Waiariki augers well for the future
and with her support the academy can
add yet another plateau to which its
talented students can aspire.
The academy is always on the lookout
for up-and-coming talent in the
region. If you have talent that you’d
like to take further, email
music@waiariki.ac.nz and tell us a
little about yourself and what you do.
You can also find more information at
www.waiariki.ac.nz/about/schools.asp.
Te Reo Māori
Kei te kaha te puta o te kōrero me whakamahi
te katoa o te motu kia ako i te reo Māori. Ānei
tāku ki tērā kōrero, “Mātua whakapai i tōu
Marae ka whakapai ai tō te tangata.” Arā, kia
mōhio pea ko te Āo Māori ki tōna anō reo ka
tahuri ai ki te whakaako i ētahi kē atu. He aha
nei te tino hua o te whakaako i te marea atu i
te nui ake o ngā tāngata ka mōhio ki te kōrero
Māori? He take anō kei tua kē atu i tērā?
There is a school of thought emerging that
advocates compulsory Māori for all. Here is
my response to that idea: “Charity begins
at home.” That is, the Māori world needs to
know its language first before teaching others.
What benefits will accrue from teaching the
entire population apart from an increase in
the number of speakers? Is there any reason
other than that?
Written by Ken Kennedy
Kaumatua Te Arawa, Te Whare Takiura o
Waiariki
It’s cool to korero
Each edition of Waiariki Today will have an
easy and useful korero column that you can
use at home or in the workplace. The theme
for this edition is encouragement and praise.
Ka pai!
That’s good, well done, good idea.
Next time your child or work colleague
does something good or that you like use
this expression to show your appreciation
and praise.
In the home:
Child: “Look at my picture I drew, Mum.”
You: “Wow! Ka pai, that’s awesome!”
In the workplace:
Colleague: “I’ve been thinking of bringing in
some plants to work to brighten up the place.
What do you think?”
You: “Kai pai, I think that’s a great idea.” or
You: “Kai pai, good on you.”
Kia kaha
Be strong, good luck, you can do it!
You can say this when you are supporting
someone, to let them know that you are there
for them.
In the home:
Child: “Dad, I don’t want to play rugby this
weekend. I’m not very good and I get teased.”
You: “Just do your best, kia kaha, I know you
can do it.”
In the workplace:
Colleague: “Arghhh, this work is driving me
mad. And that customer was really rude!”
You: “It’s nearly the end of the day, kia kaha,
not much longer.”
Written by Huia Lloyd
Projects Manager
Rotorua campus
0800 924 274 Waiariki Today |
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