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It has been a fantastic start to the year, with strong engagement across learning, sport, culture and community.
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We welcomed the Education Review Office (ERO) for a recent visit. The review team acknowledged the positive culture of the school and the strong focus on wellbeing, engagement and achievement. Our evidence based literacy intervention programme also features in the Education Gazette link.. This reflects the hard work of our students and the dedication of our staff and whānau who support them.
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Students have benefited from university liaison visits from all New Zealand universities, helping them explore future pathways and make informed decisions about their next steps.
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A highlight of the term has been the reopening of the refurbished Sutherland Block, providing improved learning spaces for students and staff.
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We have also launched several exciting initiatives this year including Te Iti Kahurangi Academy, supporting Māori student leadership and aspiration, and our Aviation Programme, which is already taking off with strong student interest.
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Learning Beyond the Classroom
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Our Agriculture Department and students played a key role assisting at the Golden Shears, showcasing both their skills and strong links with our rural community.
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We also hosted a Student Support Expo, bringing together school services and 16 external agencies to promote health, wellbeing and support for students.
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Student leaders have been actively involved in national development opportunities including the Waikato Leadership Academy and the Pūhoro STEM Academy.
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Students have also enjoyed extensive Education Outside the Classroom experiences, with over 15 field trips already this year with a highlight for senior Sports Academy and Geography students experiencing the remarkable learning opportunities in the Tongariro National Park.
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We farewell Mr Ewan Hyde after 10 years of dedicated service as the College librarian, and Ms Georgia Atkinson, who leaves our Health and PE department following her fixed-term position to pursue cricket opportunities overseas. We thank them both for their commitment to supporting student learning and wellbeing, and wish them all the very best for the future.
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With wisdom and courage—kia mātau, kia māia.
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The library is a place of knowledge, learning and friendship. It’s where many of you have walked through the doors, borrowed books, grabbed a laptop, or found a quiet corner at lunchtime. But there is one person who has quietly kept it all running in the background, Mr Ewan Hyde.
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Mr Hyde has been at Waicol for 10 years. In that time, he has seen cohorts come and go, year nines arrive wide-eyed and year thirteens head off into the world, all while ensuring the library remains the true cornerstone of Wairarapa College life. He has supported countless students, guided readers, and even taken Readers Cup teams to Auckland.
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Throughout it all, his consistent message about Waicol has been the same, that the students are “inspirational,” and that he has been privileged to work alongside “great staff and students.”
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After 10 years of service, we farewell Mr Hyde from Wairarapa College. We farewell the ever-friendly presence in the library, the conversations, the quiet humour, and the steady hand behind the scenes. More than anything, we farewell a colleague and friend who will be greatly missed by staff and students alike. We wish him all the very best for a well-earned retirement.
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LEAD values
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"We are what we repeatedly do." Students are recognised for displaying our values with LEAD points on our school app, SchoolBridge. Well done to the following students who have gained the most recognitions for Term One in their respective year level:
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Year 12 - Shilo Heberley and Fridaus Hussein
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Year 13 - Shaughan McGregor
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NCEA Success
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Our NCEA results remain above the national average and comparable schools. Congratulations to the following students who excelled gaining Merit and Excellence Endorsements.
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| Marleigh Paku |
Amy Foote-Lynch |
Katelin Edwards |
| Tess Sherriff |
Max Bradley |
Annabel Falloon |
| Koby Burkett |
Travis Paterson-Baker |
Jessica Harvey |
| Corin Walterhouse |
Rose Kawana |
Kaixin Kang |
| Caitlyn de Lara-bell |
Penelope Lategan |
Aiden MacKenzie |
| Evie Hawkins |
Isaac Murphy |
Brianna MacLeod |
| Makayla O'Hara |
Chloe Winter |
Lexi MacPherson |
| Shilo Heberley |
Stephen Price |
Matipa Mhembere |
| Danielle Robertson |
Rory Faulkner |
Eavhuy Oeng |
| Pippa Hansen |
Luke Fairbrother |
Tim Rodier |
| Bree McGregor |
Tiara Milligan |
Sophie Sawkins |
| Levina Levaula Faalogo |
Lexi Grove |
Rane Silvester |
| Irene Shaji |
Emiley Bracken |
Olivia Stevenson |
| Ivy Te Tau |
Anastasia Bradley |
Olivia Stolte |
| Hazel Stewart |
Luca Duncan |
Āniwa Turipa |
2025 Excellence Endorsements
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| Brayden Whande |
Olivia Leach |
Verena Thawley |
| Eavhong Oeng |
Sarah Pettit |
Wyatt Backhouse |
| Campbell Wiramanaden |
Hana Harwood |
Abi Davies |
| Matilda Flemming |
Jaimee Mobberley |
Lola McCartney |
| Sophie Ihaka |
Scarlett Handley-Craig |
Thea Miller |
| Lana Kerehi |
Shaughan McGregor |
Sarah Pointon |
| Alexi Haglund-Turley |
Lola Robertson |
Tora Quinney |
| Nienke Mebus |
Braith McCarthy |
David Rees |
| Sassa Duncan |
Riley Grove |
Heidi Rough |
| Maddy Brown |
Joseph Campbell |
Tiami Wilson |
| Addison McQueen |
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Aviation Programme Takes Off
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Our new Aviation Programme has had an outstanding start, with students showing high levels of engagement and pride in being part of something special. In their very first session, all students had the opportunity to fly and land a plane and after five weeks were learning how to react to the plane stalling in flight.
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We are seeing their motivation and confidence grow immensely, with students benefiting from learning in an authentic, real-world aviation environment. The programme also supports NCEA credits through the ServiceIQ Aviation Gateway – Aeroscience Programme, aligning closely with our focus on meaningful pathways and future opportunities.
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A key strength has been the connection between theory and practice, with students applying their learning in real settings. We are grateful for the support of the Wairarapa Aero Club, whose expertise and commitment have made this opportunity possible.
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"This is the best subject I have ever done" - Sebastian Tigerholm
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Geographers on the Go: A Busy Term of Fieldwork
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It’s been a full and exciting term for Geography students at Wairarapa College, with three year levels heading out into the field to put classroom learning into real‑world practice. From fast‑flowing rivers to alpine landscapes and windswept coastlines, our geographers have been gathering data, building skills, and gaining a deeper appreciation for the environments that shape our region and our nation.
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The Year 13 cohort kicked off the term with a trip to Castlepoint Beach - one of the region’s most iconic coastal environments - as well as Riversdale Beach. The weather was freezing with a strong southerly, but the students braved the conditions to measure beach slope, swash and backwash quantity, wave height, wave frequency and longshore drift. This data will help them to understand the dynamic processes that shape coastal landscapes. The students will then return to the locations in winter to get some comparison data for the different seasons.
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Year 12 geographers ventured further afield, travelling to the dramatic volcanic landscapes of Tongariro National Park. Here they collected vegetation data to better understand patterns of plant distribution and how they relate to altitude, climate, and soil conditions. The weather provided some stunning autumn weather for the occasion.
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To round off the term, the Year 11 cohort kicked off the term’s fieldwork with a trip to the Ruamahunga River. Students collected invertebrate data to investigate river health. They identified species such as mayfly nymphs, stoneflies, and caddisflies—key indicators of good water quality. Students then compared different sites along the river to explore how land use and environmental factors influence the diversity and abundance of aquatic life.
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Across all levels, this term’s field trips have given Wairarapa College Geography students invaluable opportunities to develop practical skills, strengthen their understanding of geographic concepts, and deepen their connection to the natural world. A big thank you to the staff who made these trips possible.
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Wairarapa College Students Excel at Golden Shears 2026
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Wairarapa College agricultural students distinguished themselves at the Golden Shears World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships 2026, achieving excellent results across multiple events.
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Maia Buick secured an outstanding third-place finish in the Novice Shearing. Harry Carlsen also competed in the Novice Shearing, performing strongly. Maia and Harry subsequently represented the College in the Secondary Schools Shearing Pairs Challenge, where they placed fifth.
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In the Junior Shearing competition, Gus Monk, Harry Monk, and former student Phoebe Monk all competed, with Gus and Phoebe advancing to the final. Phoebe achieved a fifth-place finish, concluding a commendable performance.
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In addition to those competing, approximately 70 Wairarapa College students contributed behind the scenes in roles such as tipping, holding, and penning. Their dedication and work ethic were integral to the success of the event and reflected the strength of the College’s agricultural programme.
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Careers and Pathways Update
What a busy and exciting term we have had! It’s been great to see students in our Vocational Training classes settle into their UCOL Trades Academy and Tertiary Pathways courses, and our Pathways to Work classes work towards heading out on work experience placements next term.
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Here is a quick rundown of everything that happened in the Careers and Pathways space in Term 1:
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We have had several first aid courses running this term. Students have gained valuable life-saving skills through this course and it’s a great bonus to add this certification to their CVs.
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The majority of students on these courses are part of our Pathways to Work classes who are expected to gain their First Aid certification before heading out on their Gateway work experience placements.
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On Wednesday 18th March, a mixture of senior students completed a one-day Firearms Safety course as part of their process in gaining their Firearms Licence. This course is mandatory for anyone wanting to gain their Firearms Licence, and it was a great opportunity to hold this in school.
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We are looking to hold another course in school later this year – date TBC.
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Steve Oehley Career Guidance Scholarship Day
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On Thursday 18th March, 10 senior girls participated in one day workshop as part of being awarded a scholarship with Steve Oehley, a national career guidance expert. The scholarship (worth $600) was part of an initiative with the Girls Who Grow programme, which aims to get more women into careers in rural and/or environmental fields.
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The students worked through activities and tasks with Steve to give them a more in-depth look at their career pathways and see what options matched against their interests and goals. It was amazing to see Steve in action and we are hopeful to work with him on other ventures in the future.
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What’s coming up in Term 2?
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From the beginning of Term 2, we officially launch our Careers and Pathways platform (powered by Careerwise), plus our new weekly newsletter!
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This has been in the works for a long time, and we are so excited to have this available for students and their whānau to use as a one-stop-shop for everything related to careers and pathways at Wairarapa College.
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Relevant information will still be advertised through the different year groups on Microsoft Teams and through the school notices.
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We also have the following events/courses lined up for Term 2:
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- Youth Learner Licence Course – 11th/12th/13th May
- Industry Big Day Out – Thursday 14th May
- UCOL Masterton Open Day – Wednesday 3rd June
We will advertise other events/courses as they pop up.
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Please contact our team if you have any Careers and Pathways questions – we are happy to help any way we can!
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Mrs Anja Lister – alister@waicol.nz
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Mrs Sarah Craig – scraig@waicol.nz
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Term 1 has started with a bang for our Arts students at Wairarapa College. Throughout the term, students have been working hard for a number of our extra curricular groups, including Shakespeare, Cantate, Armonia Dolce, rock bands, Kapa haka, dance troupe, and our annual musical, Sister Act.
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Cantate students from our elite mixed voice choir had a successful quiz evening on the 6th of March and start to their season of song, sharing one of their competition selection pieces for the Wellington Regional Big Sing which happens on the 9th of June. Funds raised during this evening supports students' costs associated with competition entry fees, travel and accommodation.
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Outside of the school grounds, Lucas Stoneley was a featured solo artist at this year's Summer Hummer, as well as The Young Fellas, a band made up of Kyus Sanders, Connor McEwen, Stephen Price, Lucas Stoneley, and ex student Jack Brown. The Summer Hummer is an annual music festival organised by the Masterton District Council and features regionally and nationally ranked musicians.
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Congratulations also goes to Connor Orr and Kit Anderson who competed in the Pipe Band Nationals as part of the Wairarapa Fern and Thistle Pipe Band. The band finished 9th overall - a huge achievement!
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We would also like to congratulate the junior Performing Arts Academy student and vocal talent Emme Billman who was successfully selected to attend a vocal development masterclass with Little Joke Productions. Continuing the longstanding college involvement in the Wairarapa Community Orchestra, their March concerts featured our itinerant music teacher, Mrs Ruth Eckford as conductor and arranger, Cyrus Gray-North on saxophone and a piece composed and led by relief teacher, Mr Stephan Schulz. The next concert in November will feature performers from Cantate.
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On Thursday 26 March, our NCEA Level 1 drama students presented scenes they have been developing in class as part of their assessment work. The evening also featured a range of 5-minute and 15-minute Shakespeare scenes performed by students seeking selection for the SGCNZ Regional Shakespeare Festival. The regional festival took place on 31 March at Kuranui College and we would like to celebrate the success of all students involved in this event. Fynn Brown was awarded the Best Comedic Role, and Adelaide Arcus was selected to perform in the National Shakespeare Production in Otago - a huge achievement for both of these students.
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Ms Maggie Fauvel - Head of Creative and Performing Arts
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As Term 1 draws to a close, it has been an exceptionally active and successful period on the sporting front for many of our students. There has been strong participation across a wide range of summer sports, alongside the beginning of pre-season trainings and trials for winter codes. It has also been pleasing to see excellent attendance at our morning pre-school Strength and Conditioning sessions, making great use of the refurbished Pavilion facility.
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Wairarapa College has been a significant contributor to local secondary school sport, fielding 2 tennis teams, 4 futsal teams, 10 pickleball teams, 5 cricket teams, 11 volleyball teams, 10 touch rugby teams, 3 golf teams, 15 archers, and 2 lawn bowlers. This level of participation reflects the depth of opportunity available to our students and their commitment to being involved.
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We congratulate our Junior Tennis team, WaiCol Purple golf team, along with our Girls Purple Touch team and tennis player Thomas Johnston, who each secured victories in their respective Wairarapa Secondary Schools competitions.
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Athletics Day, held in February, was another highlight of the term, with students competing across eight events, including the ever-popular House 4x100 relays. The day was marked by strong competition and impressive house spirit. Congratulations to our 2026 Athletics Champions:
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- Junior Boys (U15): Hunter Rankin
- Junior Girls (U15): Isla Henderson
- Intermediate Boys (U17): Gerrard Broughton
- Intermediate Girls (U17): Liberty Jones
- Senior Boys (U20): Rory Faulkner
- Senior Girls (U20): Maggie Shields
Our 1st XI cricket team competed in the final of the College Sport Wellington Premier Division 2 (50-over) competition losing a close game to Hutt International Boys’ School.
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Our next newsletter will include a Summer Tournament and North Island Athletics update.
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Mr Brent Anderson - Director of Sport
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Another Fantastic Book Character Day Celebration
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Book Character Day is quickly becoming a highlight of the school calendar. It’s fantastic to see the growing enthusiasm and participation from both students and staff.
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A special thank you to Hedley’s Books, our generous sponsor, for supporting the prizegiving. The following students were recognised during Period 4:
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Junior Costume
1st: Sarah Weir (Jonathan Livingston Seagull)
2nd: Kyra Nation (Rapunzel)
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Senior Costume
1st: Alyssa George (Alice in Wonderland)
2nd: Adelaide Arcus (Tinkerbell)
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Group Costume
1st: Stella Creighton, Sienna Cosgrove, Greta Kempton, Kelsey Cusack, Zara Atkinson, Amaya Wiramanaden (The Chipmunks)
2nd: Verena Thawley and Niamh Bramwell-Cooke (Bananas in Pyjamas)
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Best Staff Costume
Cindy Veitch (The White Witch, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)
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Congratulations to all our winners, and thank you again to everyone who took part and helped bring books to life across the school.
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A reminder that we are using SchoolBridge as our communication platform. SchoolBridge is designed to make communication easier and more effective by providing a central sign-in point for both parents and students. It will allow for seamless access to important tools and information, all in one place.
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Key Features of SchoolBridge:
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Absence reporting and exit passes
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Permission slips and forms
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School calendar and event updates
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News and school-wide information
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Easy access to the School.Kiwi portal (previously KAMAR portal)
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How to Get Started with SchoolBridge:
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1. Visit our website at www.waicol.nz and click the LOG IN button on the homepage.
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2. Select your account type: Parent/Caregiver or Student.
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3. Students will sign in using their school Microsoft account details.
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4. Parents/Caregivers can sign in with the email address registered with the school. If your email is linked to a service like Apple, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, or Facebook, you can use it for easy access.
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5. If your email address is not connected to one of these services, you can use the Magic Link option. This will send an email with a link that allows you to log in without needing a password.
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Download the SchoolBridge app by searching for it on the App Store or Google Play, or by scanning the QR code.
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Once installed, tap the app icon on your device and log in using the same details as the web version.
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The app will keep you signed in for convenience.
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We encourage all families to download and set up SchoolBridge to ensure you’re ready to stay connected.
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If you have any questions or need help getting started, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
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Looking Ahead – Term 2
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Term 2 is shaping up to be another busy and exciting term with many opportunities for students and whānau to be involved.
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· Sports Foundation Pre-season Tournament – 7–8 April (Boys), 14–15 April (Girls)
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· Film Festival Week – 27 April – 1 May
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· Inter-College Swimming – 28 April
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· Whānau Teacher Conferences – 30 April & 5 May
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· School Cross Country – 6 May
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· School Production – Sister Act – 7–10 May
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· Napier Boys’ High Exchange (home) – 20 May
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· Vocal Spectacular – 21 May
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· Kings’ Birthday – 1 June
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· Teacher Only Day – 2 June
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· 40 Hour Challenge – 18–21 June
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· RockQuest and Speech Competition – 19 June
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· Matariki Whānau Hui – 1 July
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We look forward to continuing this positive momentum as we move through the year and thank our community for their ongoing support of Wairarapa College.
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