Aranui Toastmasters

15/06/2026

Read Marina Taylor story below 😍✨️✨️

From East Side Christchurch to the West Coast ~ Meet Marina Taylor and John Sullivan

What brings two people from very different walks of life together through Toastmasters?

A shared commitment to growth, service, leadership, and helping others find their voice.

For almost nine years, Marina has been promoting Toastmasters as a platform to inspire others to live their best lives. What began as a Speechcraft course quickly became a journey of leadership, service, and personal transformation. Today, Marina is a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM), charter and current President of Aranui Toastmasters Club, District 72 Public Relations Manager, Transformational Leadership Coach, and passionate advocate for helping people build confidence in their leadership and communication skills.

At the same time, across town, John was continuing a Toastmasters journey that began more than three decades ago. As a young lawyer, he joined Linwood Toastmasters (formerly Pegasus Toastmasters) to strengthen his confidence speaking under pressure in court. Through Table Topics and prepared speeches, he discovered skills that would serve him throughout his legal career while helping countless others develop their own confidence and communication abilities.

Although their Toastmasters journeys began years apart and for very different reasons, both Marina and John share something special; they are club founders dedicated to creating opportunities for others.

Over six years ago, Marina led the chartering of Aranui Toastmasters Club in Christchurch, creating a thriving and welcoming club in East Christchurch where members continue to grow as communicators and leaders.

John co-founded Greymouth Toastmasters in 2010 after recognising the opportunity to bring the benefits of Toastmasters to the West Coast. Sixteen years later, the club continues to flourish, helping generations of members develop their speaking and leadership skills.

Today, these neighbouring East Coast and West Coast Toastmasters journeys have come together through Greymouth Toastmasters, where Marina is excited to begin her next chapter on the West Coast alongside fellow founding member John.

Both recently attended and served at the District 72 Conference, demonstrating that whether you’ve been a Toastmaster for nine years or thirty-two, there is always more to learn, more to contribute, and more opportunities to grow.

Their story is a powerful reminder that Toastmasters International is about more than public speaking. It is about connection, community, leadership, and creating pathways for others to succeed.

Whether you’re in Christchurch, Greymouth, or anywhere in between, your journey starts with a single meeting.

Where will Toastmasters take you?

👀 Keep an eye out for Marina and John this week, featured on a District 72 billboard on Tainui Street, Greymouth and Linwood Ave, Christchurch, as part of our campaign celebrating real member journeys across Aotearoa.

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

14/06/2026

✨ A Change of the Guard & A Room Full of Heart ✨

They say that leadership isn’t about being in charge; it’s about taking care of those in your charge. At our latest Toastmasters meeting, that sentiment didn’t just ring true it filled the entire room.✨️

With our theme A Change of the Guard, there was a tangible shift in the air. A feeling of looking back with gratitude while stepping boldly into what’s next. And appropriately, our Word of the Day was Resplendent, a perfect descriptor for the energy, humor, and hard work everyone brought to the table.
Here’s how the magic unfolded:

🎤 The Stories That Move Us Our first speaker, Hezron, took us on a journey with his speech, "The T.E.A.M. Framework" (Motivational Strategies #5-2). Hezron shared the raw, real impacts of leading a team-building event, leaving us all with a blueprint on how to lift others as we climb. It was powerful, timely, and earned him the well-deserved I've Got The Paua Award! 🏆
🧠 The Table Topics Challenge The Table Topics session kept us sharp and laughing, expertly steered by Kirsty Robertson. Standing out in the sea of impromptu brilliance was Alison, who took home the Whale of a Table Topics Award for a response that truly resonated. 🐋🌟

To everyone who stepped up to take the Table Topics challenge: thank you! Seeing the laughter and the incredible growth in each and every person who stepped onto that stage was inspiring. It reminded us exactly what ATC is all about excellence and growth! 📈❤️

🚀 First-Time Fearlessness! What made this meeting extra special was seeing our members step right out of their comfort zones. We had three people take on major meeting roles for the very first time, and they absolutely nailed it:

Lisa, stepped up as Grammarian, keeping our language sharp (and resplendent!).

Dean, took the mic as Table Topics Evaluator (Even), delivering insightful feedback on the fly.

Dom closed out the night beautifully, taking on the big responsibility of General Evaluator.

Stepping into a new role can be daunting, but these three made it look easy. Massive congratulations on conquering the milestone! 🙌🎉

🙌 The Village That Makes it Happen A meeting this seamless doesn't happen by accident. Big thanks to the rest of our dedicated team:

Lovey PI5 guided us smoothly through the evening as our Toastmaster.
Alison kicked us off with energy as SAA.
Anthony joined Dean as our second Table Topics Evaluator (Odd), breaking down the speeches with great insight.
Karen, provided a warm, constructive speech evaluation.
And keeping us all honest and on track was Tania on the clock. ⏱️

To everyone who attended, spoke, evaluated, or just cheered from the sidelines: thank you. Your humor, bravery, and hard work are what make this club such a brilliant place to grow.✨️😊

Here’s to the new guard, the first-timers, and the incredible journey ahead! 🥂

Toastmasters NZ - Lower North and South

09/06/2026

🌟 New Committee, New Chapter! 🌟

The changing of the guard begins! Join us tomorrow night as we usher in a new era for our club.

📍 Where: Whānau Room, Aranui Library
⏰ When: Wednesday 10 June, 6:15 PM – 8:00 PM
Guests are always welcome. See you there! 🙌

03/06/2026

31/05/2026

🧙‍♀️ Toastmasters Meeting Recap: An Enchanted Evening!
What a spellbinding night! Our latest meeting brought a touch of magic to the room with our "Witches" theme, and our speakers certainly left us feeling enchanted (our Word of the Day!). It was a night full of surprises, learning, and incredible energy.
A massive thank you to our lovely guests who joined us for this magical evening. We hope you enjoyed the experience as much as we loved having you!

🏆 Award Winners
I’ve Got the Pāua Award: Dominique Von Hagen
Whale of a Table Topics Award: Dean A Newberry

🎭 The Meeting Leadership Team
Our meeting ran like magic thanks to the brilliant efforts of our role players:
Sergeant at Arms: Perry
Toastmaster: Dom
Grammarian: Maarie
Table Topics Master: Alison
Table Topics Evaluator: Lovey
Timer: Lisa, taking on the Timer role for the very first time can be daunting, but Lisa did an outstanding job keeping us all on track. Well done, Lisa!

🎤 Prepared Speeches & Evaluations
We were treated to three fantastic, diverse speeches, stretching our speakers and giving us plenty to think about:

Kirsty Robertson – She was so brave!
Pathway: Presentation Mastery ( #1-4: Evaluation and Feedback)
Evaluated by: Karen
The Vibe: Kirsty showed incredible courage and took her speaking to the next level with this captivating performance. Brilliant effort!

Ngapera Kokiri – Health is your wealth
Pathway: Presentation Mastery ( #2-1: Effective Body Language)
Evaluated by: Charlotte
The Vibe: Ngapera used practiced, refined gestures to deliver some serious food for thought, truly making us all stop and reflect on our own health and well-being.

Richard Taylor – Amazing Fest 2026
Pathway: Strategic Relationships ( #4-4: Managing a Difficult Audience)
Evaluated by: Hezron
The Vibe: Richard took on the ultimate challenge of managing audience disruptions during his presentation. He took us on a great adventure and kept the entire room completely engaged with his trademark humour!

📅 Next Meeting Details
Mark your calendars and get ready for another fantastic night!
Date: Wednesday, 3 June 2026
Time: 6:15 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Whānau Room, Aranui Library
See you all there! Come as you are!

Toastmasters NZ - Lower North and South

27/05/2026

Leadership isn’t just about speaking; it’s about listening and conveying your message with gestures 🎙️✨

​Today, three of our amazing Aranui Toastmasters members, Marina DTM, Mata, and Hezron were back in the community delivering our leadership program in a school! 🏫

​Today's educational sessions focused on the art of active listening delivered by Mata, and show don’t tell through gestures delivered by Marina. Swipe to see our Toastmasters in action, demonstrating exactly how a purposeful gesture can bring a speech to life! 👐📊

​It’s a beautiful thing to witness this young generation stretch past what’s comfortable, break out of their comfort zones, and step into their potential as powerful communicators.

​Mālō lava! These rangatahi absolutely mastered it today. 👏🔥

​ Toastmasters NZ - Lower North and South fans

24/05/2026

Read more of Mata Simpson story below ⬇️⬇️✨️

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

24/05/2026

Seeing one of our own up in lights! 🌟

​Huge congratulations to our amazing Toastmaster for being featured on the billboard. Yes. YOU. It's your turn. Start speaking. such a powerful message, and we couldn’t be prouder to stand beside you tonight!😊🙏

​From conquering fears in our club to inspiring the whole community, this is what growth looks like. 🎙️💪

Find a club near you here ⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://www.toastmasters.org/find-a-club?latitude=-43.6315662&longitude=172.4929503

Toastmasters NZ - Lower North and South

24/05/2026

🌿 Garden of Growth: Aranui Toastmasters Annual Business Recap 🌿

"E tupu le fusi, ae ola le laau." (As the vine grows, the tree flourishes.) In the Samoan culture, this proverb reminds us that we do not grow in isolation. When we support one another, the whole community thrives. This was the exact spirit that filled the room at the Aranui Toastmasters Club (ATC) Annual General Meeting! What a truly remarkable night.

✨ Part 1: Celebrating Our Harvest
The first half of our evening was dedicated to reflection and gratitude. Listening to the reports from our seven club officers, we saw firsthand what true growth looks like.

A massive thank you to our 2025–2026 committee for all the hard mahi (work) behind the scenes. From our President to our Sergeant at Arms, your dedication to this club goes way beyond metrics you have poured your hearts into nurturing this garden.

We also want to shout out a huge CONGRATULATIONS to our incoming 2026–2027 committee for saying YES to the call of leadership! We cannot wait to see the new seeds you will plant. (Stay tuned, family, we will introduce the new faces very soon! 👀)

🍇 Part 2: Fun, Connection, and Fierce Competition!
The second half of the night belonged to our Game Master, Mata, who reminded us that communication isn't just about words, it's about connection, body language, and emotion.

Mata said it was all about fun, but things got beautifully chaotic and competitive very quickly! Three teams brought their absolute best, but only one could claim the crown.🍇🍊😄

🏆 The Final Scoreboard:
1st Place: Team Fruit Salad 🍍 (25 points) - Winners!
2nd Place: Team The Vegetables 🥦 (19 points)
3rd Place: Team Terrible 2’s ✌🏽 (18 points)
Well done to all the teams for bringing so much laughter and energy to the room!

🐋 Special Honors & Heartfelt Thanks
A huge congratulations to our individual award winners of the night:
Perry – Winner of the Whale of a Tail award! 🐳
Anthony – Taking home the I’ve Got the Paua award! 🦪

To our incredible members: thank you for being so flexible, adaptable, and willing to grow through every season of change.
A special shoutout to our SAA, Kirsty, for the incredible theme cake, and to everyone who brought a plate to share. Your kindness and generosity showcase exactly what ATC stands for. To our lovely guests who popped in thank you. That first step takes courage, and it will take you far. We can't wait to see you again!

🌱 Are You Ready to Grow?
If you are looking for a safe, supportive place to grow personally or professionally, this is your sign to add something powerful to your kete (basket) of knowledge.

If you're in the Aranui area, come swap stories and build confidence with us! 📍 Where: Aranui Library ⏰ When: Every Wednesday, 6:15 PM – 8:00 PM

Find a Toastmasters club near you:⬇️⬇️ https://www.toastmasters.org.nz/nz/find-a-club/

Toastmasters NZ - Lower North and South

22/05/2026

E sui faiga, ae tumau lagona. (The methods change, but the core feelings, values, and dedication remain.)

🔥 Passing the Flame at Aranui Toastmasters! 🔥

What an incredible Annual Business Meeting! 🙌 We want to extend our deepest, most heartfelt gratitude to our outgoing Executive Committee members. Thank you for your tireless dedication, leadership, and heart in serving the Aranui club this past year. You have set the bar so high!

Huge congratulations to our incoming 2026–2027 Executive Committee for saying YES and stepping up to lead! 🌟

✍️ A massive congratulations is also in order for all 7 of our committee members for attending the District 72 Club Officers Training! To celebrate their commitment, they have all received a special, personalized pen engraved with their names to help them write the next successful chapter of our club!
We are officially entering a 5-week transition period as our current team hands over the guard to a new generation of leaders ready to carry the flame forward.

👀 Stay tuned! We will be introducing your new committee very soon. You won't want to miss out on the great moments and growth ahead, so keep a close eye on our social media!

💡 Still looking to build your confidence and find your voice? You might be surprised to learn there is a Toastmasters club right next door ready to help you grow. Why not take the leap?

Toastmasters NZ - Lower North and South fans