Tikanga Māori
AT HAVELOCK NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
At the beginning of 2014, our staff, representitives of the
board of trustees and the year 13 students welcomed
our year 9 students, the overseas students and new
teachers, with a powhiri. Papa Jerry and Mr Fenton
spoke of the pride of being part of a successful school
and like the year 13’s our year 9’s would in time
reap the benefits of belonging to a vibrant and caring
school community. With the sound of “Ko Kahuranaki
te maunga...” and the stomping to the beat of “Tika
tonu...” the academic year had officially begun.
Whakatika te whare o Kahurangi – refurbishment of
the twenty year old Kahurangi. Opened on March
19th in 1994, Kahurangi has turned twenty. With
student, whnau and staff support, the old kowhaiwhai has been replaced and our tekoteko,Te Mata o
Rongokako has been layed to rest. With the skilled
leadership of Phillip Belcher as our guide the poutama
pattern has emerged onto the front of Kahurangi. Since
September 2013 plans were finalised for the repainting
of Kahurangi. One year on, and by time this article
goes to print Kahurangi will have the final touches
completed with the new lettering in place. Thank you
to all concerned who have painted the whare and
planted the gardens.
Poroporoaki – farewell to our senior mistress Mairi Fitzsimons. The
gymnasium was filled with staff, students and board members,
all there for the express purpose of saying thank you and goodbye to a teacher, mentor, friend and educator. After 25 years, Te
kapahaka o Maungawharau, Supercone destroyer, our version
of the three tenors, Sam Frost, Chris Clarke and Tim Keip, the
staff band, all said “haere ra e te kuia, nau i awhi nau ana i
manaaki i te kura nei - goodbye and thank you for your help and
care of our students and staff in the school.”
Mairi and Brian came into the gymnasium on the sound of the
bag pipes from Hinkley Pongai, the karanga from Saralee, Te
Kotuku and Ashleigh and the haka powhiri from the school.
They both listened to the many tributes from students and staff.
Gifts were handed over from drama, music, kapa haka, special needs, languages and the board of trustees. Mairi spoke of
her joy of teaching and whilst she may have given much to the
school, she in return had gained so much more. Her koha to the
school was a korowai – a feathered cloak. This was a magnificient gift and the school is indeed grateful for the honour of having
our own korowai. Finally Brian and Mairi danced out of the gym
to the band playing Moondance by Van Morrison. I would like to
acknowledge the exceptional understanding and knowledge that
Mairi brought to our school and the time she served on Te Waka
awhina. Thank you on behalf of staff, students and whanau both
past and present.