Bay of Plenty Times
  • Bay of Plenty Times home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport

Locations

  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Katikati
  • Tauranga
  • Mount Maunganui
  • Pāpāmoa
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Golden chance for hairdressing students

By James Fuller
Bay of Plenty Times·
14 Apr, 2013 11:43 PM6 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Five disadvantaged students are being given the chance to fulfil their hairdressing dreams by a Tauranga salon.

The youngsters will undergo six weeks of intensive training before being given the chance to earn enough money to visit some of the world's top salons.

The idea is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Clifford and Anna Harris, of Clifford Lamar Hair Salon.

It is based on concepts such as celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Foundation. In 2002 the British cook changed the lives of 15 young disadvantaged apprentices when he trained them alongside a team of professional chefs and mentors.

"I came across these kids a couple of weeks ago," said Mr Harris, whose clients include Food in a Minute presenter Lana Garland and British TV cook and author Prue Leith. "We do lots of work with the training schools around the country and I was with some tutors from The Hair Academy. They were telling me about the backgrounds of some of these young people and it just blew me away. They've had it really tough.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Talking to my wife, we came up with the idea of taking them on for six weeks of intensive training on specific areas, such as cutting and colouring. After that, we put them on the floor alongside the rest of our staff for two weeks.

"Any profit they make in that two-week period will be pooled in a pot for a trip away. We want to take them to see a whole other side to hairdressing, really open their eyes and keep them striving to achieve their goals.

"If they make $10 we can take them down the road to a friend's salon, if they make $100 we can go a bit further. The sky's the limit but I want them to do really well so we can take them to New York, London, Asia or Australia," said Mr Harris.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I want them to see all the cool experiences you can have and places you can see with a career in hairdressing. It's not about working in some dingy salon churning out the same old haircuts."

The five participants, aged between 18 and 34, are all students at Tauranga's The Hair Academy. They are Hansel Fielding, Lavetia Manga, Brett Griffin, Marina Cameron and Rachael Poe.

The programme begins on Monday and Mr Harris said he was open-minded about the possibilities.

"If they all do really well we could end up taking them on as stylists here. We also have some contacts with some big names in hairdressing in London, so there are some exciting possibilities. We're not closing the door on anything."

Mr Harris, who was born in Coventry and owned a salon in London's Notting Hill for seven years, said his passion for the venture stemmed from his own upbringing.

"This goes back many years. My mum came from Jamaica, she was a single mum with seven kids, so it was really tough.

"But I've had this incredible luck my whole life, where people have given me some amazing opportunities, opened doors and allowed me to do some really cool stuff. I've always felt incredibly fortunate.

"I asked some of these people why they helped me out like they did. They said it had happened to them, so make sure and give back when I got the chance. So I've done that and want to keep doing that."

Mr Harris moved to New Zealand 10 years ago and opened his first Tauranga salon in the Goddards Centre three years later.

He said seeing the students succeed would bring enormous satisfaction.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Knowing how much I respect the people who have done things for me, if someone could feel that same way about me it would be fantastic."

Five reap benefits of paying it forward


Lavetia Manga

Age: 22.

From: Gate Pa.



Story: I lived among violence and struggled throughout my childhood. I took it hard when my mum and dad split.

Chose hairdressing because: I got my hair braided when I was 12 and I've loved it ever since. I found hairdressing to be the other half of me.

Hairdressing since: 2012. This is my second year.

Thoughts on opportunity offered by Clifford Lamar: It feels like I can't fully breathe. I'm in shock.

Hopes/expectations from it: Realising my full potential.

Future ambitions: To love what I do.



Rachael Poe

Age: 20.

From: Parkvale.



Story: I had a baby at the age of 14. I tried to finish school but that didn't work, so I chose hairdressing. It is something I love to do and the course times were suitable for me, especially with a child.

Chose hairdressing because: I like meeting new people and with hairdressing you meet a lot of different people and get to help them feel better about themselves.

Hairdressing since: About two years.

Thoughts on opportunity offered by Clifford Lamar: I think it is a good opportunity.

Hopes/expectations from it: Gain more skills and have a clearer understanding of the hairdressing industry.

Future ambitions: Get a good job.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.



Brett Griffin

Age: 21.

From: Papamoa.



Story: I dropped out of school and just existed. I haven't had a real zest for life in a long time but have a zest for making people happy.

Chose hairdressing because: It more or less chose me.

Hairdressing since: Eight months.

Thoughts on opportunity offered by Clifford Lamar: Mind blowing.

Hopes/expectations from it: Working under Clifford is massive in itself.

Future ambitions: To travel.



Hansel Fielding

Age: 18.

From: Avenues, Tauranga.



Story: Spent a lot of time looking after my mother.

Chose hairdressing because: I love having the opportunity of making people feel and look good about themselves.

Hairdressing since: I started this course. I am still in my first year.

Thoughts on opportunity offered by Clifford Lamar: I'm kind of stunned, don't really know what to say.

Hopes/expectations from it: To gain some new experiences.

Future ambitions: I would like to start up a salon in Australia with family.



Marina Cameron

Age: 34.

From: Tauranga Central.



Story: I'm transgendered. Growing up I was always mistaken for a girl which was embarrassing because I knew I was a boy. When I started college I was bullied and became a victim of verbal and mental abuse. I now reside in Tauranga, studying at the Hair Academy. I am creative, I have a passion for hair and all things beautiful. I'm looking forward to my future.

Chose hairdressing because: I have a passion for hair and creativity.

Hairdressing since: Am in my first year of studying hairdressing.

Thoughts on opportunity offered by Clifford Lamar: The pressure is on but the payback is big and will be life changing.

Hopes/expectations from it: A knowledge of the industry.

Future ambitions: Qualified hairdresser (senior stylist).

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Bay of Plenty Times

'The man I once trusted violently raped me': Man jailed for attacking ex-wife next to sleeping child

07 Jul 08:00 AM
Bay of Plenty Times

'Do it now, run him over'. Teen who ran over mother's partner twice can finally be named

07 Jul 07:00 AM
Bay of Plenty Times

Hunter who feeds the hungry named Volunteer of the Year

07 Jul 06:56 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

'The man I once trusted violently raped me': Man jailed for attacking ex-wife next to sleeping child

'The man I once trusted violently raped me': Man jailed for attacking ex-wife next to sleeping child

07 Jul 08:00 AM

The man apologised to his victim, but pleaded not guilty.

'Do it now, run him over'. Teen who ran over mother's partner twice can finally be named

'Do it now, run him over'. Teen who ran over mother's partner twice can finally be named

07 Jul 07:00 AM
Hunter who feeds the hungry named Volunteer of the Year

Hunter who feeds the hungry named Volunteer of the Year

07 Jul 06:56 AM
Downhill mountain bikers impress on world stage

Downhill mountain bikers impress on world stage

07 Jul 06:38 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Bay of Plenty Times e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Bay of Plenty Times
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP