Tararua College Happenings, Week 9, Term 2, 2008

Welcome to the new Tararua College Happenings. In this regular column we will endeavour to keep our community up-to-date with what is happening at Tararua College - your school of choice. There are always many and varied events on the go at Tararua, both in and out of the classroom, in which our students are actively involved, and we will bring to you a selection of these.

A recent event was the celebration of Maatariki. This report is by Mereana Whare, Year 11:
On 23 June, Tararua College celebrated Maatariki (Maori New Year). Some of the kapa haka group welcomed manuhiri onto the Marae. There were karanga performed by Mereana Whare, Ashlyn Newport, Sakara Heremaia and Haana Wilson. Welby Nikora and Tyrone Peacock performed the Wero, a form of taiaha walk. The home group performed the haka, some waiata and karakia. The ceremonial fire was lit, students put notes into the fire, symbolising getting rid of the bad things. Then we planted flax as a symbol of new beginnings. We all then shared kai, waiata and fun in the cafeteria.
All the students want to thank Matua Tamai, parents, and all the supporters for helping to make this celebration happen.


Welby Nikora and Tyrone Peacock performing the Wero


Putting the finishing touches on the planting of the flax, from Left to right: Tamai Nicholson, Harmon Taiaroa, Jacob Tuhua, Devon Taiaroa, Welby Nikora and Miss de Castro

Tamai Nicholson joined the College staff at the beginning of term 2 as an enthusiastic and committed teacher of Maori.

In the second to last week of term on a wet, windy and cold Tuesday, Tararua hosted a sports exchange with Newlands College from Wellington, our Principal's former school. The exchange was played in good spirit despite the trying conditions. At the end of the day, Newlands College retained the fixture trophy and deservedly so.


The Tararua defence of Nathaniel Parker, Todd McHardy, Matthew Percy and Simon McCool are giving this Newlands player some close attention

The results were as follows:
Basketball Boy's: Newlands 103 - 40, Girl's: Newlands 61 - 10
Football Boy's: Newlands 6 - 2, Girl's: Newlands 4 - 1
Hockey Boy's: Tararua 9 - 4, Girl's: Tararua 3 - 0
Netball Newlands 47 - 18
Rugby Tararua 31 - 5

Also in the second to last week of term, two of our students, Lacey Spring of Year 13 and Andrew Galloway of Year 10, went out to Kumeroa/Hopelands School and judged the school's speech competition. They both presented their prize-winning speeches from the College competitions last year and were a great hit with the younger children.

In the last part of the term Tararua held the very popular annual Lip Sync night. Look out for the report and images in the next edition.

For further information on this column or about Tararua College please email Mr. Mcknight at the College.