Students' flair raises $4000 for hospice | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Christmas has come early for the Rotorua Community Hospice after it was presented with a cheque for more than $4000 from Waiariki Institute of Technology.

For the first time this year Waiariki combined its annual end-of-year student fashion show with a new competition, turning it all into a fundraiser for the Rotorua Hospice.

The competition - From Op Shop to Catwalk - required students to recycle opportunity shop purchases. The audience was polled and selected Aroha Tapsell as the winner for converting vinyl luggage into a dress.

Rotorua Hospice funding development manager Jan Morgan said the contest ticked all the boxes for Hospice and most importantly, helped to raise public awareness of the service.

"The show was a fantastic way to introduce a fledgling fundraiser, where creative and talented young designers could turn a hospice shop purchase into something that would catch a judge's eye," she said.

Waiariki Institute of Technology fashion programme co-ordinator March Crocker said the fashion show was followed by the "When Opposites Collide" presentation from the certificate and diploma in fashion students and an auction that raised additional funds for the hospice.

Ms Morgan said she wanted to thank the numerous businesses who generously contributed their goods and services in such a tight economic climate to raise money for a great cause.