Central Otago Toastmasters

17/06/2026

👉 Which would you rather do? A or B? 😬

A) Give a speech to 100 people

B) Walk into a room where you know nobody

Comment A or B 👇

11/06/2026

I NEVER WOULD HAVE BELIEVED MY FUTURE SELF IF SHE TOLD ME I WOULD ONE DAY BE IN THE NEWSPAPER FOR GIVING AN ENTREPRENEURS' TALK.

A year ago, that would have seemed impossible.
Yet here I am.
After just one year with Central Otago Toastmasters Central Otago Toastmasters, I feel confident standing up and speaking in front of a room full of people.

Toastmasters has helped me grow not only as a speaker, but also as a business owner. It has given me the confidence to share my ideas, tell my story, and step outside my comfort zone.
Growth doesn't happen overnight, but amazing things can happen when you take small steps consistently.

If public speaking, communication, or self-confidence is something you would like to improve, why not come along and see what Toastmasters is all about?

📍 Central Otago Toastmasters 📅 Monday 22 June 🕡 6:30 pm 📌 Elim Church, Alexandra

Guests are always welcome, and your first visit is free. We'd love to meet you!
Toastmasters NZ - Lower North and South

06/06/2026

🎤 What would you say... if you had 2 minutes and everyone's attention?

For many people, speaking in front of a group feels uncomfortable.

The interesting thing is that confidence rarely appears first.

It grows each time you stand up, share an idea, answer a question, or simply give it a go.

That's what Toastmasters is all about.

A supportive environment where you can practise communication, think on your feet, improve your leadership skills, and become more comfortable expressing yourself, whether it's for work, business, study, or everyday life.

Guests are always welcome.

📅 Monday 8 June
⏰ 6:30pm - 8:00pm
📍 Elim Church, 15 Ngapara Street, Alexandra

Come along, meet some great people, and see what Toastmasters is all about.

You might surprise yourself with what you're capable of.
Toastmasters NZ - Lower North and South

06/06/2026

I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD STAND UP AND SPEAK IN FRONT OF A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE. YET, WITH TOASTMASTERS...

A message from Central Otago Toastmasters VPPR, Lilly McKenzie - Body Mind Care :

A few months ago, standing up and speaking in front of a room full of people would have pushed me well outside my comfort zone.

As someone whose first language is French, I often worried about finding the right words, sounding professional, or speaking with confidence. Yet in just a few months at Toastmasters, I have already noticed a huge difference.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at a business breakfast and share ideas with people from across our region. What surprised me most was not that I could do it, but how much more comfortable and natural it felt.

That is the power of practice.

Toastmasters is not about becoming a perfect speaker. It is about finding your voice, learning to communicate your ideas clearly, and gaining the confidence to speak up when it matters.

For me, it is helping me grow my business, connect with more people, and spread awareness about something I am passionate about: the importance of communication, personal growth, and developing a strong and positive mindset.

If speaking in front of others makes you nervous, or if you simply want to become more confident in meetings, presentations, interviews, or everyday conversations, Toastmasters is a wonderful place to start.

If my story resonates with you, why not come along and see what Toastmasters is all about?

Our next meeting is this Monday, 8th June, at 6:30pm at Elim Church, 15 Ngapara Street, Alexandra.

You don't need any experience. You don't need to be confident. You don't even need to give a speech.

Just come as you are and discover how a little practice, a supportive group, and a willingness to grow can make a surprising difference in just a few months.

We'd love to meet you.

📍 Central Otago Toastmasters
📅 Fortnightly meetings
📍 Elim Church, 15 Ngapara Street, Alexandra (Until end of June)
📍 Community Center, Alexandra (From July)
💻 Join in person or via Zoom

Guests are always welcome.

Toastmasters NZ - Lower North and South District 72 Toastmasters Conference 2026

03/06/2026

Inspiring!

From Self-doubt to District Champion ~ Meet Mata Kalauta

Before joining Toastmasters International, Mata kept herself small.

Speaking up didn’t feel like an option. She believed confident speakers were “other people”.

People with more experience, more talent, and more confidence than she had.

When Mata first walked into Aranui Toastmasters Club, she was surrounded by skilled speakers, many she thought with years, even decades, of experience. It felt intimidating, and she questioned whether she truly belonged there.

But her club saw something in Mata that she couldn’t yet see in herself.

They encouraged her, supported her, and helped her discover the power of her own voice.

Mata still remembers her very first speech. She was so nervous she almost walked away before delivering it. But with the encouragement of her club behind her, she stayed.

That single decision changed everything.

Toastmasters gave Mata structure, confidence, and the ability to organise her thoughts and speak with clarity and purpose.

Then, just five months after becoming a Toastmaster, she stepped onto the contest stage for the International Speech Contest.

She placed second at Aranui Toastmasters Club level.

She went on to compete in and win Area level.

Then Division level.

Then District 72 Champion ... and went on to represent District 72 at the Region 12 Quarterfinals!

Today, Mata stands confidently in leadership roles she once never imagined possible ~ proof that growth can happen far quicker than we think when we start believing our voice matters.

Her journey is a reminder that you don’t need decades of experience to begin. Sometimes, you simply need the courage to start.

👀 Keep an eye out for Mata featured on a billboard at 101 Main North Road, Christchurch as part of our campaign celebrating real member journeys across District 72.

If Mata can do it, you can too.

Find your local Toastmasters club and start your own speaking journey today.
www.toastmasters.org.nz

03/06/2026

A big thank you to Kathy from OMS for coming along this morning and supporting me. Kathy is not only a valued member of Toastmasters and part of our committee, but also a wonderful friend. Having people around us who encourage, support, and cheer us on makes such a difference, and I am truly grateful for her friendship.

Also a big thank you to Bonnie from Southern Peak Law for hosting this morning's Business Breakfast at AFIX Café and for the warm introduction to such a fantastic group of local entrepreneurs.

I had an absolute blast sharing a little of my own journey, talking about mindset, communication, and how these two often-overlooked skills can have a profound impact on the growth of a business.

No matter what industry we work in, we spend our days communicating with clients, customers, suppliers, staff, and our wider community.

The way we communicate influences trust, relationships, leadership, opportunities, and ultimately the success of our business. Pair that with a strong mindset, and suddenly challenges become opportunities to learn, adapt, and grow.

What struck me most this morning was the energy in the room.

One of my favourite moments was a small communication challenge during the introductions. Instead of saying what they do, I invited everyone to share what they are passionate about, who they help, and who they support.

It was incredible to see how much more engaging, memorable, and meaningful the conversations became. We got to discover the people behind the businesses, not just the job titles.

I was also delighted to see how many people expressed interest in the idea of starting a Toastmasters club in Cromwell.

Central Otago Toastmasters would be honored to support Cromwell in creating its own club and helping people develop confidence in public speaking, leadership, and communication skills.

If you missed this month's breakfast, keep an eye on Facebook. The Business Breakfast takes place on the first Wednesday of each month and is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other local business owners, learn something new, and build meaningful relationships within our community.

Thank you again to everyone who attended. I left inspired, energised, and excited about what lies ahead for our local business community.

31/05/2026

CROMWELL GENIUSES! READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN YOUR COMMUNITY? THIS IS FOR YOU!

A few months ago, we reached out to the Cromwell community to see whether there was interest in bringing Toastmasters closer to home.

The response was incredibly encouraging.

Many people shared how valuable communication skills, confidence, leadership, and public speaking could be for themselves, their teams, or their businesses. Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment, message us, and show their support.

With a new committee now in place and a new Toastmasters year ahead of us, we are actively exploring the possibility of running a Speechcraft programme in Cromwell.

Speechcraft is a practical, supportive introduction to public speaking and communication. It typically runs over 5 to 6 weeks and is designed to help people build confidence while learning the fundamentals of speaking in front of others.

At this stage, we are looking at July or possibly August, and we will share more details as plans are confirmed.

If this sounds like something you would love to be part of, make sure you follow our page so you don't miss any updates.

And if you already know that you are committed to improving your communication skills and would be interested in becoming part of the growing Central Otago Toastmasters community, feel free to reach out to us directly.

Exciting things are happening, and we can't wait to share more soon.
Toastmasters NZ - Lower North and South

28/05/2026

Central Otago Toastmasters is pleased to welcome Piers as the new President for the year ahead.

Piers takes over from Sarah Fairburn, who has done a fantastic job leading the club and will, fortunately, remain part of the committee this year.

“I’m pleased to have been voted in as President of Central Otago Toastmasters. With a larger committee team this year, we have a great opportunity to build on the work already being done to provide a safe, enjoyable, and supportive space where people can grow their confidence in speaking and improve their communication skills.”

The club looks forward to an exciting year ahead and warmly welcomes anyone interested to get in touch.

Want to find out more? Get in touch!
Gill (VP Membership): [email protected]

26/05/2026

A word from our former Central Otago Toastmasters Sarah Fairbairn. It has been such an honor to have Sarah as our first President! 👏

The experience of being the first president of a brand new inexperienced club is like being a deer in headlights. Everything was new and it was definitely overwhelming to say the least. It was a similar feeling when me and Chris were asked to revive the Toastmasters Club in Alex.

I always had this sense of guilt of not being able to allot more time to it. I was so glad to have such dependable people in the committee like Lilly and Kathy and honestly there probably won't still be a club if it weren't for them.

We learned so much as a group and grew so quickly even though it felt like forever to our mentors. With every meeting, we were picking up tips and adjusting the way the meetings were run. I really felt that we created a fun and safe community of like minded individuals.

I feel extremely privileged to have gotten it to this point but also so glad to be able to pass it on so that the club can continue growing. I have no doubt that our new committee will take it to the next level with the support of all our members and mentors. Look forward to the next Toastmasters year!

Always grateful,
Sarah