ITI Articles

A group of New Zealand Management Academies (NZMA) diploma students recently raised $650 for the Child Cancer Foundation by holding a unique – and highly entertaining – NZMA Diva pageant.

On April 17, ten staff and students went head to head, battling it out to take home the first ever NZMA Diva title.  Contestants (both female and male) were from both NZMA’s School of Business and Hospitality Management and Fern School of English.  They strutted their stuff down the cat walk, made a speech and did everything they could to convince voters that they had the leading edge in the talent stakes.  The audience was treated to everything from songs and dances to jokes.

Contestants, who looked incredible thanks to the hair and makeup artists from Cut Above, were judged on confidence, talent, poise and the WOW factor.  Competition was fierce but Fern student Kumiko Tanaka eventually took out the title and was crowned the first-ever NZMA Diva.

The event was organised by 28 of NZMA’s School of Business and Hospitality Management diploma students as one of their Project Management and Team Leadership projects.  They were assessed on the organisation and execution of the event and tutor Dharmesh Parikh acted as the ‘steering committee’.

“At NZMA we believe in giving back to the community that supports us,” says Dharmesh.

“We run many events of this nature which aid local charities.  At the end of last year for example a group doing the Project Management and Team Leadership segment of their course organised a huge charity dinner, dance and auction and they raised $2400 for the Make a Wish Foundation.

“I believe it’s good to encourage projects in this quarter to have a charity element.  Students need to understand that it is good business to support the community that supports them.  Students love it and gain a huge amount of satisfaction from these types of projects.”

The cost of the NZMA Diva event was covered by a $5 entry fee, which included a complimentary glass of bubbly and finger food.  Event sponsors included Learn Rite Driving School, New World Clendon, K’Rd Groceries, Jin’s Hair Design, A&G Harrington and Glendene residents.