Northern Advocate
  • Northern Advocate home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings

Locations

  • Far North
  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Bay of Islands
  • Whangārei
  • Kaipara
  • Mangawhai
  • Dargaville

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whangārei
  • Dargaville

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Northern Advocate

Waipu community circus celebrates 10th birthday

By Danica MacLean
Northern Advocate·
17 May, 2017 11:26 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Circool Circus teacher Achmed Abman with students Hamish Bartlett, 8, and Ara Bartlett, 11. Photo/Michael Cunningham

Circool Circus teacher Achmed Abman with students Hamish Bartlett, 8, and Ara Bartlett, 11. Photo/Michael Cunningham

The children of Waipu have been juggling, unicycling and learning all things circus for a decade now.

The community circus, called Circool Circus, is celebrating its 10th birthday this month.

Founder Achmed Abman said it is an achievement in a small area to reach the milestone because there are fewer numbers to keep it going.

"It is challenging compared to big cities. That's why we want to celebrate it."

Ministry of Social Development funded a tour of circus workshops throughout Northland in 2007 and the Waipu one was well attended so Mr Abman decided to start a class there.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He said they started out with nothing, borrowing equipment from nearby Circus Kumarani in Dargaville and Whangarei Community Circus.

The name "circool" happened after a spelling error on a restaurant reservation.

The group fundraised to buy their own equipment. They were helped out by the local Lions club, donations from local groups and winning a prize at the Christmas parade.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"In all those years, only one grant for $3000."

Mr Abman teaches modern circus skills, from object manipulation - juggling, hoops, spinning plates - to walking ropes, unicycling, acrobatic posture and specific circus toys such as diablo.

"It's a combination of physical activity and performing arts."

He said the skills they learn help them in other ways too, such as how to work together in a group.

"When you produce something enjoyable in front of the public, your family members, you can have nerves, so you have to have training.

"It helps your confidence, your self-esteem and your self-worth."

As well, the physical aspects help with coordination, concentration and balance.

He runs two classes after school on Fridays at the Waipu Coronation Hall. The junior class is for primary pupils and the senior class for secondary aged students.

He has about 16 students at the moment, with some of his long-standing students having left to go to university.

"It gives me a real buzz to bring young people on stage and bring something out of them that they didn't know about yet."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Mr Abman said they have always been well supported by the community and are a popular entry in the Christmas parade.

"I am told we always add the extra colour, extra edge to the parade."

He believes the circus can stand "on its own feet" and is working on a succession plan.

"If I'm not here I hope the circus will still exist."

Circool Circus is celebrating its birthday with a free open day on May 28 at Waipu Coronation Hall from 12pm to 4pm.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Northern Advocate

live
Northern Advocate

‘A lot of rain’: Serious flooding, slips concerns as yet-another storm bears down

10 Jul 09:02 PM
Northern Advocate

One dead, two injured in Far North crash

10 Jul 08:01 PM
Northern Advocate

Kaipara museums get first council funding - and a debt wipe for Mangawhai

10 Jul 05:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Northern Advocate

‘A lot of rain’: Serious flooding, slips concerns as yet-another storm bears down
live

‘A lot of rain’: Serious flooding, slips concerns as yet-another storm bears down

10 Jul 09:02 PM

Electrical storms are set to hit at evening rush as Auckland braces for 16 hours of rain.

One dead, two injured in Far North crash

One dead, two injured in Far North crash

10 Jul 08:01 PM
Kaipara museums get first council funding - and a debt wipe for Mangawhai

Kaipara museums get first council funding - and a debt wipe for Mangawhai

10 Jul 05:00 PM
How a sinking pallet raft set one teen on a journey to sailing success

How a sinking pallet raft set one teen on a journey to sailing success

10 Jul 05:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • The Northern Advocate e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Northern Advocate
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The Northern Advocate
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP