Hope yet for Kaitaia Intermediate School reunion

Committee member Shirley Williams (left) and teacher Barbara Hall at Saturday's market. Photo / Supplied

Committee member Shirley Williams wasn't exactly swamped when she set up a stall at Saturday's market to drum up registrations for next month's Kaitaia Intermediate School reunion, but she was encouraged by the response.

By the end of the morning she was believed the reunion would proceed, although the committee would not be making a final decision until this afternoon.

Some of those who she encountered on Saturday hadn't been aware that the reunion was in the planning, while others, who had been delighted to hear about it some months ago, hadn't yet got as far as registering.

"I'm pretty sure it will go ahead, but it won't be as big as we had hoped or expected it to be," Williams said.

"It looks as though we'll get enough support to cover the costs, but we had been hoping to raise enough to make a substantial donation to the school."

At last report just over 100 people had registered and paid, and a similar number had registered interest but had not paid. The committee had initially expected 400 registrations, but would now be happy with significantly fewer.

It was those aged 50-plus who were most interested, she said earlier, but younger former pupils should ponder the likelihood that this would be the only Kaitaia Intermediate reunion in their lifetime.

"If they miss this chance they might never get another one," she said.

The reunion will mark the school's 50th year, although those who attended before 1968, when it was part of Kaitaia Primary School, will also be welcome.

* Email reunion@kis.net.nz or go to www.kis.net.nz for information, and the school's Facebook page to see who plans to be there.