The creativity of Police staff will be on display this weekend as they showcase their talents at the Under Cover charity fashion show.
Members of the public are welcome at the Police-themed spectacle, which will see five designers and two body paint artists showing ten designs each on the catwalk at the Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau, on Saturday evening.
It is the brainchild of Frances Nimeti - a Crime Reporting Line communicator at Harlech House, and a fashion designer away from work – who has put the show together with the support of a volunteer organising committee.
As previously reported in Ten One, the designers – who include Frances – are all Police staff, as are the makeup artists, hairdressers, models and performers and many others volunteering their time.
Under Cover is a fundraiser for Lifeline Aotearoa, which provides 24/7 telephone counselling for people in mental distress.
“It’s a great cause – and the show promises to be a real spectacle,” says Frances.
“I’m really proud of the hard work everyone has put in. Designers and organisers who work full-time in different departments have managed to squeeze in time outside of work hours to create this show for the cause.
"It would be wonderful to see lots of Police people there to have a great night out and show their appreciation of their colleagues’ creativity.”
There will be a $5 photobooth in the foyer, raffles, and the Vodafone cafe will be open. Some free parking will be available at Gate 1.
Frances says if people cannot make it to the event they can still donate to Lifeline Aotearoa at https://www.lifeline.org.nz/.
“Everyone knows someone who has been affected in some way by suicide or mental health issues,” she says. “It’s something Police staff have to deal with every day.”
- This is a story from Beyond the Blue, a project to highlight the diversity of ways Police staff spend their time away from work.