
Matariki market a smash hit
Junior chefs, homegrown products, fiery rockets and stargazing — Matariki celebrations transformed Cromwell College's new technology and art block into a buzzing evening market last month.
Year seven students created food stalls for the now annual event, developing everything from the menu to the branding and pricing, before serving up their tasty treats to paying customers on the night.
Sasi Avirineni, part of a crew selling tacos, said building the business had been fun because they had been given "lots of freedom to choose what we did".
"We got to use our ideas and be creative, which made it exciting."
It was all go on the night, especially when their stall "slowly ran out of one ingredient at a time", she said, but it didn't stop the rave reviews.
"Our customers enjoyed our tacos. They said they loved how quickly we made them and also loved our customer service — we gave our first customer a discount."
Lead teacher Sophie Lee said it was satisfying to see it all come together on the night for the pupils.
"They get such a buzz from selling their products and hopefully have gained some valuable business experience along the way.
"The support from whanau on the night was awesome."
Beyond the food stalls, science "buskers" drew crowds with hydrogen explosions and fiery rocket experiments, while telescopes were trained on the stars.
Principal Mason Stretch said the Matariki celebration was an opportunity for the school community to connect and share kai, learning and time.
"We were also excited to welcome whānau into our stunning new technology and art facility.
"There was learning on display across faculty areas, live music, year 12 and 13 business studies students promoting and selling their products and the hugely popular year 7 food markets.
"I am very proud of the mahi and the manaaki [care] by our students and staff and thank our whānau for contributing to such a special evening."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Otago Daily Times
14 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Matariki market a smash hit
Selling their tacos at the Cromwell College Matariki Market are (from left) Mikayla Veeran, Sasi Avirineni, Cooper Harrison and Ella Sangster. PHOTO: KIM BOWDEN Junior chefs, homegrown products, fiery rockets and stargazing — Matariki celebrations transformed Cromwell College's new technology and art block into a buzzing evening market last month. Year seven students created food stalls for the now annual event, developing everything from the menu to the branding and pricing, before serving up their tasty treats to paying customers on the night. Sasi Avirineni, part of a crew selling tacos, said building the business had been fun because they had been given "lots of freedom to choose what we did". "We got to use our ideas and be creative, which made it exciting." It was all go on the night, especially when their stall "slowly ran out of one ingredient at a time", she said, but it didn't stop the rave reviews. "Our customers enjoyed our tacos. They said they loved how quickly we made them and also loved our customer service — we gave our first customer a discount." Lead teacher Sophie Lee said it was satisfying to see it all come together on the night for the pupils. "They get such a buzz from selling their products and hopefully have gained some valuable business experience along the way. "The support from whanau on the night was awesome." Beyond the food stalls, science "buskers" drew crowds with hydrogen explosions and fiery rocket experiments, while telescopes were trained on the stars. Principal Mason Stretch said the Matariki celebration was an opportunity for the school community to connect and share kai, learning and time. "We were also excited to welcome whānau into our stunning new technology and art facility. "There was learning on display across faculty areas, live music, year 12 and 13 business studies students promoting and selling their products and the hugely popular year 7 food markets. "I am very proud of the mahi and the manaaki [care] by our students and staff and thank our whānau for contributing to such a special evening."


Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Time allows winemakers to further hone their craft
Rockburn winemaker Malcolm Rees-Francis. Photo: supplied In my view, one of the strengths of the Central Otago wine scene has been the longevity of involvement of so many of its winemakers. Time has allowed them to hone their craft as they seek incremental improvements through a deeper understanding of the fruit that Central Otago produces, while also nurturing the bounty of ever-increasing vine age. A quick head count of winemakers that have completed 20 vintages easily surpassed double figures and I'm certain there are others who are either on the cusp or have already surpassed that mark. A small handful have gone past 25 vintages, while the redoubtable Alan Brady's involvement just goes on and on. The arrival of a group of wines from Rockburn recently reminded me that the 2025 vintage saw their winemaker Malcolm Rees-Francis join that merry band in the 20+ club. Congratulations Malcolm on the achievement. New wine bars in Dunedin Having had Piccolo wine bar open in St Clair recently, a heads-up for wine enthusiasts that a new wine bar opened its doors over Matariki weekend. "The Cellar" is situated at 4 Hanover St and is opening Thursdays to Sundays from afternoon till late. Run by Colin and Jackie, this is a welcome addition to the Dunedin wine scene. Science festival wine events I spotted this late in the piece but the NZ International Science Festival (NZISF) has events for grown-ups too this week. Two that caught my eye are Sonic Sommellerie: A Multisensory Wine Odyssey — "a journey through the senses with Dr Jo Burzynska, discovering how different sounds and environments can change the taste of wine". Also: Getting the Measure of Alcohol — "what is alcohol and how and why do we measure it?" Held at Vault 21 and Dunedin Craft Distillers respectively, you'll find all the details on the NZISF website. Decanter World Wine Awards Results are just out and Central Otago secured gold medals for the 2024 McArthur Ridge Falls Dam Pinot Gris, the 2022 Te Kano Northburn Pinot Noir and the NV Mumm Blanc de Noirs. The 2023 McArthur Ridge Southern Tor Pinot Noir secured a Platinum award but is now sold out domestically. The NZ Best in Show Pinot Noir Award went to the 2024 Craggy Range Martinborough Pinot Noir. 2023 Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir RRP $49 Price Rating Excellent Sweetly perfumed, contrasted by a dusty/lead pencil quality, savoury notes join the mix, flecks of herb, a leafy/snow-pea-like aspect. Ripe, generous, fills the mouth, has central Otago classicism writ large on it. Bright acidity gives freshness, now dark cherry. There's crowd pleasing sheer drinkability yet complexity and depth for added interest. 2023 Rockburn Seven Barrels Dick Bunton Vineyard Gibbston Pinot Noir RRP $99 Price Rating Outstanding A sense of elegance and refinement, swelling in the glass. Cherry, cranberry, a gently savoury undercurrent backed by schist aspects. Lovely tension, not at all showy, but built on elegance and structure. A sense of ethereality, a lighter frame but far from underpowered, you have to come to this but it rewards you. The nose really grows with air, wonderful precision and linearity. 2023 Rockburn Eleven Barrels Parkburn Vineyard Gibbston Pinot Noir RRP $99 Price Rating Excellent to Outstanding Herbal influences, flashes of mint and eucalypt appear for a moment, subtlety, refinement, perfume grows, sweet fruit, toast/pencil shavings, biscuity aspects. Flavour depth clear to see, ripe yet dry, oak seasoning, it becomes clearer that this is a bigger boy than first thought, the tannins show their mettle, richly fruited, earthy humus, dusty characters, the power evident now.


Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Matariki marked by community
Kakanui School held its annual Matariki night on June 19. Matariki marks the Maori New Year and is a time to remember those who have died, to celebrate the present with whanau and friends, and to look forward to the future with hope. Principal Ann Roughan said the Matariki celebration was "so special" as the entire Kakanui community was invited to the event. "Our Matariki celebration was about sharing stories, kai, culture, and strengthening the bonds within our school community — we all came together to celebrate Matariki, a time of reflection, renewal, and connection," she said. Ms Roughan said the children created art works that depicted Matariki, sang waiata and also presented the audience of family and friends with some Maori stick and string games, and videos they had created about Matariki. — APL