Star parents pay off for schools

Shane Cortese performs at the Hauraki School fundraiser with his son Kees. Photo / Chris Loufte

Forget cake stalls. Rocking the stage with celebrity parents is the new money spinner for the school fair.

Schools are calling on actors and singers to help boost the profile of summer school fundraisers - with Shortland Street actors, singers, newsreaders and sports stars beating the hoop toss and bouncy castle as drawcards.

On Friday night actor and singer Shane Cortese hit the stage at Hauraki Primary for the North Shore school's annual Twilight Fair.

The star of hit TV One show Nothing Trivial said he was thrilled to perform at the event which he hosted with Olympian Paul MacDonald.

"The excitement from the kids was fantastic and I've been amazed at how many people know about the fair."

Other schools with pulling power of star parents included Auckland's Westmere Primary.

On November 20 TV journalists Mike McRoberts and Wendy Petrie, musician Peter Urlich, actress Greer Robson-Kirk, actor Kirk Torrance and Fair Go presenter Gordon Harcourt will take to a giant 50m water slide to raise cash.

Auckland's Bayfield Primary in Herne Bay hosts the biennial Music on the Field where stars such as Opshop's Jason Kerrison perform.

Shortland Street's Matt Chamberlain, who plays Murray Cooper, will MC Titirangi's Rudolf Steiner School's Advent Fair next Sunday.