14/07/2026
WHAREKAUHAU 2026 BOLD AS GOLD WINNER:
RAFFY RABARA from Pertronics
Meet Raffy Rabara, the man behind one of the most jaw-dropping costumes the Gold Awards has ever seen. A Machine Operator on the AOI (Automated Optical Inspection) line at Pertronic Industries in Taita, Raffy took out the 2026 Bold As Gold best dressed title in spectacular style.
His prize? A dream escape for two to Wairarapa’s Wharekauhau Country Estate– two nights of accommodation, food and refreshments valued at over $10,000. It’s not just a getaway; it’s the kind of prize most people would happily turn into their honeymoon
By day, Raffy also performs PCB (Printed Circuit Board) testing, but in the lead-up to the Gold Awards he turned a full day and two evenings into a glitter-soaked creative marathon.
He transformed recycled clothes and an old yoga mat into a sparkling work of art, coating everything in gold paint and painstakingly gluing on thousands of tiny pieces of glitter one by one
He started building the costume on Sunday and worked through the entire day, then carried on late into Monday and Tuesday nights after work. On Wednesday, he completed the final fitting, making sure every detail – from cape to crown – was perfectly in place for the big night.
Inspired by this year’s Gold Awards event theme (football - the beautiful game), Raffy built his entire look around football. From the golden soccer balls and trophy to the football jersey details and a football net worn as a cape, every element celebrates the beautiful game with a bold, glittering twist – topped off with a giant “GOAL!” banner to seal the moment
Raffy has completed a Level 8 postgraduate diploma in I.T. since arriving here. For him, this win feels like “perfect timing”: his fiancée currently lives in the Philippines, and the couple plan to marry in February 2027.
With a Wharekauhau stay now in the mix, the prize has taken on an extra romantic shine.
“We may even see if we can have our wedding ceremony at Wharekauhau,” Raffy says – turning one incredible costume into part of an unforgettable love story.
