Waihi College is celebrating after one of their students took out the senior 'Star of the Night' award in the Student Wearable Art Programme Toi as part of the 2024 Showquest event on Monday.

Zoe-Beth Naisby from Waihi College wowed the judges and the crowd alike with their creation Recycled Romance, a red gown crafted with large rose petals made from hundreds of recycled school lunch containers, earning them the Senior Star of the Night award. 

Zoe-Beth explains the inspiration behind the winning garment as “the beauty of the rose is a symbolism of eternal love and after giving these aluminum containers a longer life, they too are timeless.”

Skye Emperado’s ‘A Habit of a Sister’ from St Mary's Catholic School Putāruru took the Junior Star of the Night award. 

Aclassic monochrome nun’s habit from afar, upon closer inspection this garment is created from hundreds of intricately placed keyboard keys.

In an exciting celebration of creativity and innovation, local student artists and designers showcased their handmade wearable art creations on Monday night at Mercury Arena Baypark as part of the 2024 Showquest event.

Delivered with the support of World of WearableArt (WOW), Toi is a significant component of the wider Showquest performing arts programme offered annually to students enrolled in New Zealand schools. Students work solo or in collaborative groups to conceptualize and create a unique wearable art garment that tells a story.

The community at Mercury Arena admired and applauded 69 incredible garments showcased on the runway, with standout garments receiving awards during the evening's prize-giving ceremony.

Each region’s top garments will be judged by none other than WOW Ambassadors Dame Suzie Moncrieff and Heather Palmer to determine national award-winners.

The winning design teams will then be invited to attend the highly anticipated 2024 World of WearableArt Show: DREAM AWAKE in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington this spring.

"Through Toi, we aim to challenge students to push the boundaries of traditional art forms," says event producer Kelsey Moller.

"Our collaboration with World of WearableArt enriches our program and provides students a platform to express their artistic visions in a tangible and memorable way."

Each participating student or group had the opportunity to design and create garments that reflect one of four dynamic themes: Stories of the South Pacific, Year 3024, Larger Than Life, or Myths, Legends, and Fantastic Creatures. An Open brief was also available for those whose visions extend beyond the provided themes.

Bay of Plenty’s students dazzled and delighted attendees with garments created from keyboard keys, upcycled plastic lunch containers, and even flooring underlay.

"The ingenuity and storytelling on display were a true testament to what is possible when we empower our rangatahi and tamariki to let their imaginations blossom," says Kelsey.

Showquest and Toi are supported nationally by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth Development, Creative NZ, ZM, Bernina, Rockshop, and World of WearableArt. Showquest Bay of Plenty is also supported by Creative NZ, One Foundation, TAURANGA Community Event Fund, and the Lion Foundation.

The list of Toi awards presented at Monday night’s showcase:
Best Use of Innovative Materials
The Latest Print / Mount Maunganui Intermediate / Bahlee Ellis
Recycled Romance / Waihi College / Zoe-Beth Naisby
Wings of Power / Greenpark School / Charlotte Broadbent,  Lillie-Mae Kennedy, Charlotte Jump

Excellent Garment Construction 
A Habit of a Sister / St Mary's Catholic School / Skye Emperado
Peacock Eyes / Tauranga Intermediate School     / Isla Draffin, Bailey Heerdegen and Amelie Joyce
Starflicker / Mount Maunganui Intermediate / Kaia Angus, Jessica Blas
Steampunk Astronaut / Waihi College / Kyle Sorely
The Amazon's Rainbow / Mount Maunganui Intermediate / Courtney Dromgool
Ataahua Moana / Mount Maunganui Intermediate / Jordi Cameron
Le Frisson / Mokoia Intermediate        / Isabelle Walmsley, Harriet Wright, Jessica Ward
Aurora / Rotorua Intermediate / Jasmin Tombleson and SIerra Wakeman

Outstanding Stage Presence     
Papatūānuku/ Mother Nature / Mount Maunganui Intermediate / Ngawai Kerr, Marija Sole, Cat Ahomiro
Dragonfire / Mokoia Intermediate        / Kiri Riley, Maya Gebert, Emily Rossiter
Ice Elegance / Mount Maunganui Intermediate     / Zofia Mannins, Grace Gordon
Curiouser and Curiouser / Mount Maunganui Intermediate / Sadie MacArthur
Taiyung - Dragon Protector and Warrior / Mount Maunganui Intermediate / Thea Eady, Georgia King, Molly Napier
FIRE ANT / Greenpark School / Haeleigh Bidddle,  Maylin Potaka,  Adabelle Hope
Global Warming / Greenpark School / Lola Rawiri, Aisha Hollenberg, Alf Riyas

Creative Storytelling  
The Space Traveller / Mount Maunganui Intermediate / Denzel Dance, Kimberley Dobbie
Goodnight Sweet Dreams / Tauranga Intermediate School / Aria Moana & Amo Lehloesa
Ngāhere / Mount Maunganui Intermediate / Lola Stevenson, Charlotte Grace
Mount Ngauruhoe / Mokoia Intermediate / Sam Jensen, Willow Taylor, Caitlyn Barrett
Flowers of the future / Katikati College / Zoe Wallis
The price of success / Rotorua Lakes High School / Tyla Talbot
ANZAC Warrior / Kaitao Intermediate / Morgan Addenbrooke, Lincoln Giles, Kymani Haumaha-Pere
Peaking Duck / Tauranga Intermediate / Jack Coombs and Zennie Lin

Stars Of The Night     
A Habit of a Sister / St Mary's Catholic School / Skye Emperado
Recycled Romance / Waihi College / Zoe-Beth Naisby

This year Showquest events span across several regions, having started with Claudelands Arena in Waikato on May 21, followed by Toitoi - Hastings Opera House in Hawke's Bay on May 24.

In Wellington, seniors performed at St James Theatre on May 27 and juniors on the following day, May 28.

Manawatū's Regent on Broadway hosted an event on May 30.

The tour continued in June at Forum North in Northland, with juniors presenting on June 6 and seniors on June 7.

Mercury Baypark Arena in Bay of Plenty saw performances on June 10, followed by a series of shows at the Aotea Centre in Auckland, with the North Shore on June 12, Greater Auckland on June 13, and Central/West Auckland on June 14.

Nelson's Trafalgar Centre is up on June 17, with Canterbury's Douglas Lilburn Auditorium hosting seniors on June 20 and juniors on June 21, concluding in Southland at the Civic Theatre on June 25.