Wairarapa Self-Denial Dinner
Wairarapa Corps held an international dinner and open mic evening on Saturday 16 August, as part of The Salvation Army’s 2025 International Self-Denial Appeal.
‘We shared delicious kai from our Self-Denial Appeal countries—Tanzania, Georgia, India, and Bulgaria—before an evening filled with laughter, talent, and whānau fun,’ reports corps officer Lieutenant Ashton Vaitaki.
Ashton explains that senior soldier and Women’s Fellowship Coordinator Judi Harding came up with the idea. Instead of a women’s event this month, Judi suggested a corps whānau night and dinner to raise funds for the annual appeal. With many people in the Wairarapa Corps whānau new to The Salvation Army, the idea resonated with Ashton and her co-leader husband, Lieutenant Niko Vaitaki.
‘The heart behind it was to encourage engagement with the appeal, raise some funds, learn about the four focus countries, and of course, share fellowship over kai. It was encouraging to see everyone excited, researching their countries for recipes, and really engaging with Self-Denial in this way. Hand-painted flags and decorated tables by some of our creative members really made the atmosphere extra special. To top it off, we finished the night with an open mic full of performances and items, where our tamariki stole the show.’
The open mic part of the evening included a sharply dressed MC, Bruce Crisp, with his wide repertoire of dad jokes, music, instrumental performances, dance, poetry and cultural items—complete with ‘ad break’ performances.
‘It was such a wholesome night together,’ says Ashton, who extends her thanks to everyone involved and reports the dinner raised a koha of $400 to add to Wairarapa Corps’ Self-Denial offering.
The international kai included Mchuzi wa Samaki, a Tanzanian spicy fish stew; Biscvitena Torta, a Bulgarian biscuit cake, as well as Sarmi (deconstructed cabbage rolls); Saag Aloo Gobi, a green leaf vegetable sauce with fried potato and cauliflower; Chana Masala, an Indian chickpea curry; Ojakhuri, a Georgian potato dish; and Chakapuli, a Georgian lamb stew.
