4 November, 2014
High Tea with Zonta - A great success!
For those of you who were unable to attend the High Tea with Zonta at the refurbished Khandallah Hall, you missed an
afternoon treat!
Zontians and friends were encouraged to enjoy High Tea in a vintage set up. Club committee members took up the challenge
and did just that. All arrived early to set up their themed tables, vintage of course. Eleven tables in total and not
one looked the same.
The ideas were fantastic and put together with such artistry. A clinical white theme from the Science table through to a
Christmas theme from the PR and Communications team. You felt as though you were in a time warp when guests arrived in
their finery, vintage fox furs, hats and gloves, sipping their welcoming glass of champagne or in one or two cases,
lemonade.
Each table was judged by Her Excellency Virginia H. Benavidez, Ambassador of the Philippines and Her Excellency Rosaura
Leonora Rueda Gutierrez, Ambassador of Mexico who took their roles very seriously! They looked for tables that best
represented the vintage theme; the most creative, engaging and visually appealing to all the senses; and the most
outlandish. Needless to say, they had a very difficult task to perform with all the eloquent features.
High Tea included beautifully cut sandwiches, warm savouries and beautiful cupcakes. All divine, and washed down with
the copious cups of tea in the so, so, small, dainty cups which we are now unaccustomed to use. Soft piano music playing
in the background completed the scene.
Some formalities took place after tea. Lynn McKenzie ONZM, our past Zonta International President briefed us on Zonta
International’s projects and the direction they are taking in 2014-16.
This was followed by Dame Margaret Sparrow who launched the Zonta Science Award Album of Winners 1990-2014. Professor
Wendy Nelson, a recipient of the award in 1996 when she worked as curator in the herbarium of the Museum of New Zealand
Te Papa Tongarewa, was presented with a “hot off the press” copy.
Our gifted and humorous Master of Ceremonies for the afternoon was Janine Gould. She jollied us along and cajoled
everyone into taking an active part in both the silent and live auctions. Lots of fun and laughter was had by all. Not
one auction item was unsold. These ranged from paintings, designer bags, a vintage velvet coat, overnight stay at a
luxurious apartment in Queenstown to bottles of tequila!
At the close of the afternoon a kind word from our President Agnes, thanking all for their support, endeavours and
generosity. The financial outcome from the afternoon activity, a sum of $7,300, will benefit our national and
international projects and will aid the status of women here in New Zealand and worldwide.
Zonta National Project: The Sophie Elliott Foundation
Zonta International Partnership Projects: Eliminating Obstetric Fistula in Liberia;
HIV-Free Generation in Rwanda; Gender Responsive Schools in Vietnam;
Delaying Early Marriage in Niger; Voices Against Violence in 12 countries.
For information on Zonta in New Zealand go to www.zonta.org.nz
ENDS