Kohara 2 shine exhibition

Four Wellington Girls' College students—Zara Hermens, Mary Forrest, Catherine Sonerson, and Isabel Melling—had the privilege to submit their work to the Kohara to Shine exhibition. This event showcased creations by secondary ākonga studying fashion, textiles, and product design in the Wellington region. A collaboration between Massey University and Wellington secondary schools, the exhibition took place at the College of Creative Arts on the Wellington campus, featuring 35 pieces from seven schools.

The exhibition provided a unique opportunity for ākonga to explore the connection between secondary and tertiary study in the creative arts. It was a chance for them to "kohara" (shine) by displaying their work in a professional exhibition space, celebrated by their whānau, friends, and school staff.

Zara Hermens - selected 2025 iD Dunedin Fashion Show

Zara Hermens, a designer in the natural fibres section, has been selected to present her work at the prestigious 2025 iD Dunedin Fashion Show. This opportunity came after the iD Dunedin Fashion selection panel attended the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards, where they were highly impressed by Zara's catwalk designs. Zara will be featured as part of the Hokonui Schools group section, which is proudly sponsored by Otago Polytechnic.