It's not every day a tornado rips through your school. So when planning a school fundraiser at the beginning of the year, Mount Maunganui Intermediate didn't expect they'd have to consider fundraising for $45,000 worth of damage after a tornado ripped through school grounds on May 14.

Mount Maunganui Intermediate models Kylie Goodhue, Sam Mano, Jeremy Roberts and Tarryn Robertson. Photo: Zoe Hunter.

But that's where the funds from their fashion extravaganza, Storming the Catwalk,atthe school hall on August 1 will go.

School principal Lisa Morresey says there's $45,000 worth of damage that's not covered by Ministry of Education insurance.

'The Ministry of Education insurance doesn't cover fencing, site-work, courts and astro turfs. So there's quite a proportion of things that aren't covered by the insurance.”

Lisa says there's $36,000 worth of damage to the astro turf alone.

'I'm working with the Ministry to see if they'll pick the costs up, but we're making it the goal of our fundraiser.”

Organised by the school's parent support group coordinators Joy Luker and Anna Beck, the fashion extravaganza will see clothes from Wallis, Rip Curl, Evolution, Mount Surf Shop, Augustine, Moko, Harper and Charlo modelled on the catwalk.

'We've managed to peg a few male teachers to model the clothes, and Lisa is going to strut her stuff too,” says Joy. 'We're trying to make it an evening for both men and women.”

A silent auction will be held on the night, with all profits going towards covering costs of the tornado damage.

So they're looking for any items businesses can donate to be auctioned off.

'Nothing is too big or too small,” says Joy. 'If you want to donate something worth $40, it's still $40 the school didn't have before.”

So far, auction items include a signed cookbook from Annabel Langbein, a surfboard from Mount Surf Shop, a DVS ventilation system from Mojo Electrical worth about $3000, restaurant vouchers and more.

Earlier in the day, at 1.30pm, the children get to strut their stuff on the catwalk in home-made wearable art for the Trash for Fash event.

The fashion extravaganza starts at 7pm. Tickets cost $50, which includes snacks, a light meal and a glass or wine or beer on arrival. They're available from Wallis Clothing on Maunganui Rd during the school holidays, or at the intermediate in Term 3. Tickets are limited.To donate to the auction, email joyluker@gmail.com