LEADERS ’ REPORT
Being named Head Girl and Head Boy this year has been such a privilege and an honour . These last nine months have gone by so quickly and it ’ s been amazing to watch not only ourselves , but also our fellow Year 13 peers , grow and mature into young adults ready for the exciting next step . We knew this year would not be easy given the internal and external problems this school has faced in the past but we were lucky enough to have a strong Forum Committee behind us as well as the teachers and rest of the student body to help us along the way .
2022 , like the years before , has had its challenges and tribulations . Amidst the war in Ukraine we didn ’ t want to just sit aside and watch the events unfold over social media . We wanted to make a difference . Therefore , the members of our leadership group pioneered a fundraiser called the “ Walk to Ukraine ”. In previous years the “ Lockdown Challenge ” had been created during the times of intense Covid restrictions with the goal of fundraising for their chosen charity . This year , we decided to expand on this idea by opening it up to all HNHS students and their families . With only a couple weeks between conception and execution , we advertised the event to a large scale to gain as much funding for the “ Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal ” as possible . Thanks to the generosity of the community and the mahi of all of those who participated in the event our school raised $ 22,000 towards this cause .
Our last year of high school is about coming together in a safe and encouraging environment to mature as leaders before we go our separate ways . With the cancellation of our Year 13 Camp and other major house events , morale was low and Forum made it one of our goals to revitalise the energy of the student body . Following the Walk to Ukraine endeavour , Forum travelled to Wellington for a leadership conference . Here we were refreshed on the skills a leader can use to promote student activity within our school . This successfully fuelled our ambitions to enhance school spirit as we decided to brainstorm new house events . With uncertainty looming from previous years , we had to think outside of the box to create an event that not only guaranteed maximum participation but also allowed for adequate social distancing . Taking
Head Boy & Head Girl Thomas Hooper , Rakairoa Joyce
5 these factors into consideration , the Kant Challenge was born . The Kant Challenge is made up of diverse tasks to represent the various extracurricular activities in which Havelock North High School students excel . We hope that this event makes an appearance in future years to encourage the utilisation of our different skill sets .
After surveying the Year 13 cohort , Forum came to the conclusion that our Year 13 gift should be of practical use that supports the future growth of the school . As lunchtime rolls around , the outdoor court is arguably the most used part of our school . Basketball is a sport that is growing in popularity in Hawke ’ s Bay , and so we chose to invest our Year 13 gift into revamping the outdoor basketball hoops . This includes new backboards and sprung hoops while the poles will be painted to match the decor of the surrounding buildings . Although this gift needed a push with the fundraising and will require work to install and perfect , it effectively leaves our mark on the school and will undoubtedly be loved by future students to come .
Another significant event was the annual Zongs vs Greenstreet Year 13 football match . What began as a couple of mates kicking a ball around at lunchtime , turned into one of the most fiercely competitive and highly anticipated games of the year . This event highlights the entrepreneurial spirit of our Year 13 cohort as both teams have signature kits for the game as well as a large online social media following . The final game this year was a thrilling one as Zongs battled back from a goal down to ultimately take the tie 3-2 . It was watched on by a large crowd of around 100 students and teachers and was a perfect way to send off the Year 13s who have contributed so much to the life of the school over their five years here . Leading as Head Girl and Head Boy of 2022 has not only been an honour but also incredibly rewarding . Our final year of high school , although quick to end , has been filled with challenges , opportunities , and chances to come together as a year group . As we move through to our futures , we will remain connected through our shared time at Havelock North High School .
Rakairoa Joyce and Thomas Hooper