Students from three of Tauranga Moana's Maori Immersion Units are holding a performing arts ‘idol' competition today, Friday, October 23 at Maungatapu Primary School to raise funds for the Samoan tsunami relief effort.

Kere Willison, Kyle Jeffery-Smith, Symphony Rimaha, Te Kanohi Kuka, Pianika Ormsby, Layden Tane, Connie-Pearl Anderson and Brodie Heke perform at the Ra Karawhiu (Bring It Day) this morning.

The Ra Karawhiu (Bring It Day) will see Year 1 to 6 students from Merivale, Bethlehem and Maungatapu Primary Schools performing in groups and displaying their singing and dancing talents before an audience.
Around 15 groups will perform and audience members can vote for their favourite group in age ranges Years 0-2, 3-4 and 5-6. Each vote costs $1 and the money raised will go to the ANZ Bank's tsunami relief fund.
The three schools are all members of Nga Kaimatauranga Pumanawa o Tauranga Moana, a cluster of Maori Immersion Units former earlier this year.
Cluster secretary Moana Lucas says students have been learning about the Samoa tsunami. Former Maungatapu Primary School deputy principal Malcolm Lawrence and teacher Helen Parry were in Samoa on holiday during the time of the tsunami and Malcolm will be talking at the competition to provide a first-hand account. Malcolm rescued Helen from the sea; she is still in Waikato Hospital recovering from her injuries.
'This is a good chance for children to learn the importance of giving to a worthwhile cause,” says Moana.
The Ra Karawhiu starts at 11am and members of the community are welcome to attend.