Captain Hurricane salutes Massey event and venue

Wellington campus events staff played an integral role in helping the Hurricanes super 15 rugby side organise an end of season celebration – a black tie dinner in the Museum Building's Tea Garden.
Players who are not shy about strutting their rugby flair on the field showed similar enterprise off it, with three nominated to plan the end of season festivities.

With the support of Wellington campus events manager David Pearce and his staff, locks Jeremy Thrush, James Broadhurst and prop Ben May, were enlisted to plan the evening. Their duties included preparing the invitations, arranging the food and beverages, booking the band and organising a master of ceremonies.

Photographic design students from the School of Fine Arts documented the night, which featured team presentations, speeches -including an address from coach Mark Hammett, and the playing of a video highlights reel from the season.

Mr Pearce says the Hurricanes were clear that they wanted an occasion befitting a black tie event.

"While we worked with the boys on this project, we wanted them to really drive the event and to their credit they did, and that’s how you learn," Mr Pearce said. "There were times when we wanted to jump in and take a bit more control but we agreed with [Hurricanes personal development manager] Steve Symonds to take the back seat and support the guys through the process of planning and running the event, and they did a great job."

Mr Pearce’s contribution to the dinner’s success was rewarded when he was personally presented with a signed Hurricanes jersey.

There was every chance the University’s links with the Hurricanes would continue Mr Pearce says, as organisations like the rugby franchise frequently offered employment and internship opportunities for students studying subjects ranging from food nutrition to sport science, marketing and management.