Hairdressing celebrities and talented newcomers alike descended on Te Papa for the 40 year celebrations of the New Zealand Hairdressing Industry Training Organisation (HITO).
And what a weekend it was; filled with events, competitions, apprentice awards, networking and the launch of the new face of HITO online at www.hito.org.nz.
Saturday saw a series of salon tours, with guests shown around iconic Wellington salons to met salon owners and staff. An expo was opened at Te Papa that celebrated the past 40 years of formal qualifications in the hairdressing arena and focused on those people who had contributed to the industry in a major way. A selection of historic hairdressing related documents were on display for guests to reminisce over.
Over the two days, a Hairdresser in Training competition was on display where apprentices and trainees sent in entries to copy a Worldskills model hairstyle. Guests were encouraged to vote for their choice and a record number of 65 entries were received from entrants.
On Saturday evening the HITO awards were presented, with the Apprentice of the Year awarded in each of seven areas within New Zealand.
National Apprentice of the Year Nominees were:
Northern – Katherine Minty (Headlines Hairstylist, Whangarei)
Auckland – Ardita Rakovica (Bettjemans, Auckland)
Midland – Haley Barraclough (Ahead of Time, Tauranga)
Mid-Central – Nikita Barter (Spectra, Palmerston North)
Central – Dorien Van der Berg (Pukerua Bay)
Northern South – Krystal Ward (Hair on Brighton, Christchurch)
Southern South – Amber Parkinson (Total Image, Invercargill)
Runner Up was awarded to Nikita Barter and the overall winner of the 2008 Apprentice of the Year was Ardita Rakovica (pictured above).
The awards evening also saw the Jasmine McBeth Memorial Scholarship being awarded to Joel Hornell from Rodney Wayne, Bayfair (Tauranga). This scholarship consists of an prize of $3000 to be used for further training and development within the hairdressing industry. Also, KJ Scissors kindly donated a $1000 pair of specially fitted scissors for the winner.
Sunday's schedule held a series of speakers, Worldskills Training, and demonstrations running throughout the expo. The celebrations closed with a cocktail party on Sunday evening where the Hairdressers in Training competition award winners were announced. Judges from the industry awarded the top prize to Gemma Wigg from Bettjemans in Auckland, with the runner-up prize- and the People's Choice Award- given to Alicia Hampton from Euphoria for Hair in Timaru. This competition drew praise from industry players and judges noted that the overall calibre of the entrants was very high. They also commented that this new competition was one of the best that they had seen over recent years as it encouraged training and put all competitors on the same footing.
The evening ended with HITO unveiling new branding in terms of marketing materials and collateral that will see put its best face forward- to match with its already fabulous hair.
Below: Sasha, Rose Palmer, Ardita Palmer, Erica Cumming and Grant Bettjeman
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