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Start of Term 4 2025

Principal's Message

Kia ora e te whānau,

It is the season for celebration as we acknowledge another successful year at Wairarapa College. This term began with our inaugural Service Awards, a wonderful occasion recognising students who have given exceptional service to our school. We were delighted to have the ever-energetic Lyn Tankersley from Kim’s Way as our guest presenter, who shared a positive reminder that we can make a difference, even if it is little.

We now look forward to our upcoming UCOL Sports, Arts, and Academic Awards, where we will celebrate the achievements of our students across a wide range of fields. A reminder that whānau are warmly invited to attend these events as we recognise the hard work and success of our young people.

Another exciting milestone is the completion of the Sutherland Block development. I am excited about the imminent move back to our refurbished classrooms that will benefit both staff and students.

Staff update

We welcome Ms Jess Innes (Principal's PA) and Lisa Fitness (SLC Teacher Aide) to our staff. We also welcome back Ms Caitlin Lindsay, who has returned from maternity leave. Mr Gavin McEwen will continue to cover Mrs Cathy Mabey's classes while she is on leave. Congratulations to Mr Mike van Woerkom (Head of Mathematics) who managed the successful Wairarapa Hockey Men's team and has been selected to manage the NZ Indoor Hockey Men's team. Congratulations to Mr Alistair Payne (Head of Health and PE) who was awarded the Andrew Cup for his top Law Exam result, the Francis Cup for Best Premier Referee, and the Frank Gleeson Trophy for his service to the Referees Association by the Wairarapa Bush Rugby Union. Mr Charlie Brown (Youth Mentor) also played for the Wairarapa Bush in the Heartland cup.

PPTA industrial Action

Unfortunately, it is likely industrial action will continue throughout this term. We hope that the PPTA and the Ministry can reach a fair and timely resolution.

During this period of disruption, we encourage students to continue engaging with their learning at home and online, and to stay in contact with their teachers where possible.

Ngā mihi nui,
Matt White
Principal | Tumuaki

Student Board of Trustee Election Results

Congratulations to Year 11 student Pippa Hansen who has been elected as the Board of Trustee Student Representative.

Thank you to all the candidates for standing and for their willingness to contribute to the governance of our kura.

Ngā mihi nui,

Michelle Stanley

Returning Officer

Student Achievements

Congratulations to our outstanding students!

Squash: Liberty Jones was crowned New Zealand Squash National Under 15 Champion. Former students Mackenzie Tait (Under 19 Champion) and Ben Jones (semi-finalist, Under 19s) also excelled. All three were part of the Wellington team that won bronze in the Teams’ Event at the New Zealand Junior Age Group Championships.
Boxing: Brooke Miller is the New Zealand Youth 60kg Boxing Champion.
Kickboxing: Lincoln Chandler has been selected to represent New Zealand at the WKA and WKO Kickboxing competitions in Europe.
Netball: Maggie Shields was selected for the Central Zone Advanced Netball Camp.
Equestrian: The Wairarapa College equestrian team – Holly Corlett, Paige McGregor, and Emma Robertson – performed strongly at the Solway College Dressage Interschools. Holly and Paige competed at a higher level than usual, while Emma achieved 1st and 2nd placings on her new horse and received the Cleanest Yard Award.
Rugby: Konnor Vainu represented the Hurricanes U18 team.
Wairarapa U16 Boys’ Squad: Casey Leeper, Finn O’Sullivan, MacKay Scott, Lucas White, Jared Collings, Josh Fairbrother, and Angus Monk.
Wairarapa U16 Girls’ Squad: Grace Duncan, Kenzie Chicoine-Gillies, Milli Garrity, Holly Bannister-Medlin, Mea King, Lola Venberg, Ruby Palmer, Hilary Sims, Giuliana Brown, and Emily Daysh.
Visual Art: Keiana Rose, Evie Moore, Indie Fergusson, Faun Warwood, Dashie Bond, Lizzie Wilton, Bayley Hawkins, Ryan Nation, Alessandra Neligan, River O’Connor, Navaeh Apiata, Jaxon Carr, Ashlee Pointon, Iona Johnston, Lilly Thomas, Imogen Ogden, Shelby Searle and Kahu Anderson's artwork is on display at Aratoi Gallery's Art Exhibition.

Mental Health Awareness Week

To start the term, Wairarapa College came together to recognise Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, a time to talk openly about mental health, reduce its stigma, and support one another.

This year’s theme, ‘Top Up Together’, encouraged our school community to find ways to recharge and connect. Each day featured activities linked to the daily themes, including chalk drawing, whānau time bingo, free giveaways, a lunchtime wellbeing walk, casual clothes day, and the much-loved Kōrero Cup - the annual student vs staff touch rugby game. Congratulations to the students, who came away with the Kōrero Cup after a 4–2 win!

A highlight of the week was hearing from Gemma Turner, author of Gigi’s Diary, who spoke at our assembly about her own experiences with mental health and the strategies that supported her during high school. Gigi’s Diary is an interactive wellbeing resource that our guidance team use with rangatahi to help them build positive habits and resilience.

Contacts for support:

1737 – Free call or text any time, day or night
Youthline – 0800 376 633 or email 234talk@youthline.co.nz
School Counsellors – Contact Paul, Kylie, or Olivia via Teams (or by text if you already have their numbers)

Message for students:
"If at any time you are feeling particularly down or unable to lift yourself out of a low mood, please use the contacts available to you. You are not alone, and support is always here for you."

Ngā manaakitanga,
The Counselling Team

Clay Target Team - National Champs

At the end of Term 3 the Clay Target Team headed up to Hamilton to compete in the North Island and National Clay Target Champs. The team consisted of Jack Heynes, William Corlett-Galyer, Liam Dennes, Lachie Newland, and William Holmes. The team had a fantastic weekend, supported by whānau and their coach Ian Buick.

All members of the team achieved outstanding results across the weekend. The team’s skill and hard work were evident across all events. William Holmes had a remarkable debut season, securing 1st place in the Junior North Island Point Score and 3rd in the Junior New Zealand Point Score. His performance also saw him qualify for the Wellington Regional Team, alongside teammate William Corlett-Galyer, who also qualified after a strong showing throughout the weekend.

We are looking forward to another strong season next year.

Miss Nicole Buick

Kapa Haka Festival

Our Wairarapa College Kapa Haka rōpū proudly participated in the Whakaoriori Kapa Haka Festival, joining with schools from across the region for two days of performances and celebration of Te Ao Māori.

From our students - 'It was the most nerve-wracking yet exhilarating experience. A moment to stand tall, represent our kura, and share our pride in Te Ao Māori waiata and haka.'

Thank you to Whaea Aroha and Whaea Sophronia for their guidance, support, and dedication in preparing our rōpū.

“Ēhara taku toa i te toa takitahi, he toa takitini.”
My strength is not that of an individual but that of the collective.

International News

Bonne chance et au revoir

On 23 October Year 12 student Aurora Carswell will depart for a three month stay in France. Aurora says that she has been brushing up her spoken and written French to get ready for her three months in Reims-Taissy. Reims-Taissy is in the Champagne region in the Northeast of France and home to many famous vineyards and wine labels. Aurora will attend school while she is in France at Lycee Sacre Coeur. Have a wonderful time, Aurora. We will see you at the start of the 2026 school year.

Proposed Cultural Trip to China 2026

Oir college has been invited to send a group of students to visit Wenling and Linhai cities both situated in the Zhejiang Province of China. Last term, we were visited by students from sister schools in Wenling and Linhai and because they have invited us to visit them, we are now beginning to plan an itinerary for a 10-to-12-day cultural trip in September 2026.

We plan to fly to Shanghai from Auckland and after a day or two of sightseeing, travel to Wenling and Linhai. From there we will be accommodated by our sister schools for five or six days before returning to Shanghai for a final few days and then flying back to New Zealand.

More details will be published shortly.

Homestays

Thank you to our homestay parents for their ongoing support and for providing wonderful experiences for our students. Our Japanese exchange student Eita Miura (pictured) recently enjoyed a successful fishing trip with his homestay whānau.

Mr Geoff Shepherd

International Student Dean

Reflections on the National Schools Shakespeare Production Workshop

In the Term 3 holidays, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the National Schools Shakespeare Production (NSSP) workshop in Wellington. Alongside 46 other students from across Aotearoa, I spent a week immersed in the world of Shakespeare performing, learning, and connecting with others who share a love of theatre.

The experience was intense, inspiring, and unforgettable. Each day began with warm-ups and ensemble work, followed by acting workshops led by professional directors and tutors. We explored voice, movement, characterisation, and stagecraft, all while preparing scenes for a final showcase at the end of the week.

What stood out most was the sense of whanaungatanga within the group. Everyone brought their own style and strengths, yet we all supported one another to take risks and grow as performers. By the end, it truly felt like we had become a company not just a group of students.

Being selected for NSSP has deepened my appreciation for Shakespeare and for live performance. It reminded me how powerful storytelling can be and how theatre can bring people together across backgrounds and experiences.

I’m incredibly grateful to Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Trust, the tutors, and everyone who made the workshop possible and to Wairarapa College for supporting me along the way.

“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.”
— As You Like It, Act II, Scene VII

By Michael Ross-Harding

Performing Arts Update

Cadenza

Wairarapa College’s elite choir, Cantate, was once again selected for the Cadenza North Island Choral Final, held in Whanganui in early August. Students dedicated many hours to rehearsals, and their hard work was reflected in an impressive judges’ scorecard across both of their performance sets. Cantate proudly received the award for Best Performance of a Set Piece as well as a Korimako Silver Award.

Thank you to Andrea Thomson (Choral Director) and Ruth Eckford (Collaborative Accompanist) for their many hours of preparation and guidance to ensure our student singers performed with confidence and polish on stage.

Rampage's Rockquest Success

Congratulations to Rampage - Lucas Stoneley, Kyus Sanders, Connor McEwen, Stephen Price, and Liam MacArthur, for making it into the National Rockquest Finals. This places them among the top 15 bands in New Zealand, an outstanding achievement that showcases their talent, creativity, and passion for music.

Service

Sarah Pettit has received a National Arts Award for Contribution to Theatre, recognising her dedication to community theatre through volunteering and her active involvement in the Wairarapa theatre scene.

Well done, Sarah, on this well-deserved national recognition.

Wairarapa College’s Olive Oil Among NZ’s Finest

Wairarapa College has achieved national recognition for its school-produced Extra Virgin Olive Oil, earning a Silver Award at the 2025 NZ Olive Oil Awards.

Our oil, certified by Olive Oil New Zealand, met the International Olive Council standards for quality and purity. Judges praised its very ripe fruit profile, with notes of tomato aroma and a vanilla-flavoured finish.

Our horticulture block holds 175 olive trees, including Frantoio, Leccino, and Pendolino varieties, which are harvested each year to produce our premium olive oil.

This outstanding result makes Wairarapa College the only secondary school in New Zealand to receive an award in this year’s competition which is a testament to the quality of our agricultural programme and the real learning experiences it provides students.

Congratulations to Mr Grace, Mrs Shelton, and Mr O’Connor (pictured), whose innovation and ongoing commitment continue to set the standard for excellence in agricultural education.

You can learn more about our school farm and olive production here: waicol.co.nz/our-learning-experience/school-farm-kaimac.

Property Update

We are pleased to share that, after more than two years of construction, the redevelopment of our iconic Sutherland Block is now nearing completion. This exciting milestone marks a significant step forward in providing modern, high-quality learning spaces for our students and staff. A blessing will be held on Monday 1 December to officially return the building to the school. Further details about this community event will be shared closer to the time.

As part of the next phase of our redevelopment project, work will begin on the demolition of existing buildings (Block N). Before demolition begins, all known asbestos in the works area will be safely removed. This asbestos removal work is scheduled to take place during working hours from 3 November 2025 and is expected to take approximately one week. Wairarapa College management and the Board of Trustees have been fully consulted about the nature and timing of this work, along with the comprehensive safety measures that will be in place throughout the process. Further details will be emailed directly to whānau the week before removal works.

Sutherland Block Redevelopment 2024 photo

Senior Technology Projects

Our senior Technology students have been busy completing their end-of-year projects, bringing creativity, craftsmanship, and problem-solving to life. From self-feeding BBQs and handcrafted furniture to planter boxes and more, each project reflects the students’ innovation and practical skill. Hopefully, these creations are now making their way home!