Two sides go to war - with flour and fury - at Matua gala

THERE will be flour and fury when two sides go to war at Matua School's gala day this weekend.

The school's PTA has organised a giant paper sword and flour bomb fight for the children, which will be the highlight of the annual gala. The battle will include an enlisting procedure, shields and a uniform to show their adversaries they mean business.

The Fifth Waikato Dragons, an element of Alf's Imperial Army, have been working with schools for more than a decade to "teach a spot of history by way of kinaesthetic learning". The army is New Zealand's longest-running and largest pacifist warfare organisation, and they are coming from Waikato to teach some fun battle history.

It will make for quite a sight when the children come careening down two hillsides to collide in a battle of flour and rolled-up paper, says PTA chair Brenda Downie.

The day includes something for everyone. There will be horse rides, a petting zoo, a dunking machine, food, coffee and slushies. A handful of stalls from The Little Big Markets will be there.

Fun of the fair includes a face-painter, merry go round, mini jeeps, bouncy castle and ferris wheel.

In the hall there's candy floss for sale, and cake, plant and book stalls.

Performances include Otumoetai Intermediate music group, dance troupes from Rise and Dance Education Centre, and the Astro Cheer team.

The details
Matua School Gala
Matua School
March 24, 10am-3pm