Grace Steenkamp, Mackenzie Crawford and Hannah Wade investigated the Earth's development. Photo / Supplied
Indigo Fisher, Taylor Revell and Luke Schofield studied the link between the shape of a river and the speed of water flow. Photo / Supplied
More than 80 projects were entered in the inaugural Kerikeri Primary School science fair. Photo / Supplied
Held on June 25 in the school hall on Hone Heke Rd, the fair was open to all students atthe Year 1-6 school.
Years 1-4 children carried out whole-class investigations, while Years 5-6 completed research projects on Planet Earth and beyond in groups of three.
Themes ranged from plate tectonics to the best soil and light conditions for growing plants. There were about 80 entries with many parents visiting to see the displays, principal Sarah Brown said.
''The students worked incredibly hard all term on their investigations. They've been truly excited about science, and they've seen themselves as scientists throughout this process. Hearing comments like, 'I'm going to be a scientist when I grow up' is so pleasing,'' she said.
Some students had been more specific, saying they intended to study marine biology and earth sciences at university. Some groups have been invited to take part in the Top Energy Far North Science and Technology Fair at the Turner Centre this year.
The school will hold another science fair in two years.
Kerikeri High student wins auctioneering competition
Year 13 Kerikeri High School student, Nimish Singh, has won the 2021 REINZ Auctioneering Schools' Championship.
Kerikeri High School student Nimish Singh in action at the 2021 REINZ Auctioneering School Championship.
He is no stranger to the winner's podium having placed second worldwide in the 2020 virtual international reality language competition for Mandarin Chinese. In 2018 he won the top student in the EP Volvo Ocean Race Competition.
Runner up in the REINZ 2021 competition was another Kerikeri High School student Nicholas Powell, a Year 12 student.
Ten secondary school students entered the competition. They were from Kerikeri High School, Springbank School (Kerikeri), Epsom Girls' Grammar School and Diocesan School for Girls.
Roger Dawson, chief judge of the Schools' Championship said: "It's a way of building greater self-confidence, self-esteem and self-belief in the fourth year of the competition".
A Kerikeri High student has won for three of the four years the competition has been running – 2018, 2020 and 2021.
Far North Creative Communities calls for applications
The Far North Creative Communities (CCS) assessment team travelled out of council chambers in Kaikohe last month and resolved to meet in other towns in the future.
In the meantime, six applicants were successful in being granted funds for art or event projects.
Yazma Smith received $2000 for her film project Emiemi te maunga; Bruce Walker $425 for a concert at the Soundgarden, Northland Area Floral Art Society $948 for its Northland Designer of the Year 2021, Hokianga Community Education Trust $2000 for Hokianga Walks Book artwork, Bruce MacGregor $4000 for Kerikeri Open Art Studio Trail (Koast) 2021, and Mary Ann Ralph $2000 for Oruaiti Art Group.
CCS has about $12,000 per quarter to disperse and has an extra $12,000 one-off Covid response grant from Creative New Zealand to give away.
The deadline for applications for the year's third funding round is Tuesday, August 10. For more information - https://www.fndc.govt.nz/Your-District/Funding/Creative-Communities.
Sounds interesting
The Sounds Interesting series of speakers at Kerikeri's Turner Centre continues on Friday, July 30 with Berlin-born Paihia filmmaker Florian Habicht.
Florian Habicht with Isey, the 100-year-old matriarch of Habicht's documentary film "James and Isey".
An Evening with Florian will begin with a 60-minute presentation on his life and travels, including a short film, and will be followed by a "reverse" 15-minute Q&A session, where Habicht will question the audience.
Habicht is a prolific and innovative filmmaker. He fell in love with art at Kerikeri High School, inspired by his teachers Mr Wilkie, Mr Chignell, and Mrs Ayton.
He has made eight feature films to date - Kaikohe Demolition, Love Story, Woodenhead, Rubbings from a Live Man, Land of the Long White Cloud, Spookers and Pulp: a Film about Life, Death & Supermarkets.
His most recent Northland creation James & Isey is now screening at the Cathay Cinema, and includes scenes filmed in Kerikeri.
• Email Sandy Myhre at mywordmedia@yahoo.com if you have any news you'd like to see in Bay News.
