Pacific Toastmasters Club

District 112’s legendary "Trio" understood the assignment 😄

In Toastmasters, the District “trio” means the three key elected district leaders:

Marlene Krone — District Director
Mark Tweedale — Program Quality Director
Sandeep Kinge — Club Growth Director

Here’s Marlene, Mark and Sandeep after Saturday's Division contests, striking a pose in their matching custom Trio tees…

The contests were held at the MIT Pasifika Community Centre which is where Pacific Toastmasters meets. You are invited to join us this Wednesday 15th April and every fortnight thereafter to see what Pacific Toastmasters is all about. We’d love to have you with us 💙

Meeting Recap | Wednesday 1st April

Pacific Toastmasters fully leaned into the spirit of April Fools with a meeting themed “Pranks”, set by our ever-capable Mister Chair Stephen Budai. There was plenty of the kind of good-hearted energy that makes our club what it is.

Our Word of the Day, chosen by Grammarian Pranish, was “Snollygoster” meaning a corrupt, unprincipled person. A wonderfully odd little word that I had to google to ensure we weren't being pranked! Yes, it IS a real word 🙌

We were treated to three inspiring speeches, each completely different, which is part of what makes Toastmasters so enjoyable.

Aroha kicked things off by reminding us that maybe, just maybe, we are more capable than we give ourselves credit for. Her message was clear: if you have ever thought about going for your DTM – Distinguished Toastmaster title, why not you? A gentle push, a big challenge, and a timely reminder to stop playing small.

Marlene followed with a strong reminder that one of the most important tools we have in life is communication. Simple, powerful, and true. So many things in life get better when we learn how to say what we mean, hear what others mean, and connect properly.

Then came Tom, who encouraged us all to take up gardening as a hobby. And honestly, in a world full of screens and stress, mucking into gardening is starting to sound like elite life advice!

Our Table Topics session was perfectly matched to the April Fools theme, with questions about pranks, harmless mischief, swapping lives with club members, prank championships, and what pranks can teach us about humour, trust, and human nature.

A very special mention goes to our guest Rachel, who has only been in Aotearoa for a month, but is already an experienced Toastmaster. Not only did she visit, she stepped up and served as our General Evaluator, offering excellent feedback on the meeting and the role-holders. That takes confidence, generosity, and skill. We absolutely loved hearing her fresh perspective. There is something really special about having a visitor reflect back what they see. It reminds us of what we do well and where we can grow.

All things said and done, it was one of those classic Pacific Toastmasters nights: welcoming, uplifting, slightly unhinged in the best possible way, and full of people growing in confidence while having a genuinely good time.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 15 April. Come along, bring your courage, your sense of humour, and ideally no suspicious whoopee cushions.

If you’ve been curious about what it's like to experience a Toastmasters meeting, here's the opportunity for you to satisfy your curiosity at our Open House on Wednesday 1st April @ 6.20pm

Message us to save you a seat or for more details.

On Saturday the Combined Area M International Speech & Evaluation Contests were held at the MIT Pasifika Community Centre in Ōtara. This is the home-base for Pacific Toastmasters and our club was well represented by our members not only competing, but also serving as Officials and Functionaries.

✅ ️Mei-Ling Faitau was Chairperson for the M1 and M2 Evaluation Contests.
👌 Maria Kalpatzoglou was Chairperson for the M1 and M2 International Speech Contests.
😎 Stephen Budai served as Chair for both the M3 and M4 Evaluation and International Speech Contests.
🚦Aroha Heene served as the official Timer for the event.

A huge congratulations to our 🏆MVP🏆, the stunning Mele Siaosi who competed in the M3 Area Evaluation and International Speech Contests and placed 2nd and 3rd respectively. We are so proud of her 💜

All the winners from Saturday will go on to represent their Areas at the Division M Contest Saturday 11th April, same bat time (8.30am), same bat channel (MIT Ōtara)

We anticipate the talent will be off the charts! Come along, provide your support, and observe Masters of Toasting in action!

At Pacific Toastmasters your speech may be pompous...

But it can never be too long...

Not when the Timer is on the job 🤣✅🔔

The Evaluation Contest is happening this Saturday and it deserves its moment.

This contest is all about sharp listening, quick thinking, and knowing how to give feedback that is helpful, encouraging, and memorable. A great evaluator lifts a speaker up while showing them how to grow. That is a real skill.

Evaluation contests are exciting because contestants have to listen closely, think on the spot, and deliver something clear, thoughtful, and polished in just a short space of time.

And the stakes are high too, because the winners from Saturday’s Area Contest will go on to compete at the Division level.

Wishing all of our Evaluation Contest contestants the very best this Saturday. Bring the insight, bring the heart, and bring your best.

💬 International Speech Contests are about so much more than winning.They are about courage, growth, and having the heart to stand up and share your voice. Every person who steps onto that stage is doing something brave. They are opening up, telling their story, and giving a little part of themselves to the audience. That is something special.

Speech contests remind us just how powerful words can be. A speech can make us laugh, make us think, make us feel, and sometimes even change the way we see things. That is the beauty of public speaking. It connects people.

Contests like these also challenge speakers to dig deeper, work harder, and bring out their very best. They are not just about performance. They are about growth, self-belief, and finding out what you are capable of.

This Saturday, as our Area Contests take place, Pacific Toastmasters will be proudly represented by our gifted orator, Mele Siaosi, and we are so proud of her.

No matter the result, it already means something to step up and speak. That alone is worth celebrating. Wishing all contestants the very best this Saturday, especially our own Mele as she takes the stage with the full alofa and support of her Pacific Toastmasters aiga behind her 🌸

Pacific Toastmasters' 'OPEN HOUSE' meeting in March was so nice... we're doing it twice! 😊

Come along as a guest to see a best practice demonstration meeting in action. You can even bring a friend 🧡

📅 Wednesday 1st April 2026 @ 6.20pm

Come for the laughs, come for the refreshments, insert your own reason here ______________ !

Pacific Toastmasters Club