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WHAKATANE HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
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Issue 17 - 31 October 2025
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PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
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E ngā reo, e ngā mana, rau rangatira mā, ngā matā waka, tēnei te mihi nui atu ki ā koutou katoa. Ko te wawata me te tumanako ka noho ora mai koutou katoa.
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Our annual senior prizegiving was held yesterday. This occasion provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge top achievers in academic work, and cultural and sporting pursuits. The large number of students who walked across the stage is testament to their commitment to the all round culture of the school and I want to congratulate them all. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge our Year 13 leavers and thank them for their contribution to our school. Last week we also held an Achievement Assembly to acknowledge almost 100 students who had received two or more High Achievement and/or Diligence awards in their subjects.
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Most of our seniors are now on study leave and their NCEA exams start on Tuesday 4th November. Some seniors are required to be at school from next week to complete work from earlier this year. If you have received an email specifically asking for your child to come to school on a certain day/s, please help us to ensure they attend. An email has been sent out to whānau informing you of the timetable for what is happening in departments over this period.
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Please follow this link for the timetable for exam revision and assessment catch ups for each subject.
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Next week, the Education Review Office will be at our school. Their role is to evaluate and report on the quality of education in schools. They will go through our paperwork, observe classes, meet with key stakeholders and then write a report which will identify good practice and give some recommendations of what our next steps may be. Reports are published once they are complete.
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I am pleased to announce that Mr. Mark Hanlen has been appointed as the Deputy Principal for Pastoral Care from 2026. He takes over from Pete Barsdell who, as you know, will be the Principal next year. I am looking forward to working with Mark when I move back into my old role!
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Kia whakapau kaha koe i te rā whakatā - Enjoy your weekend.
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2025 Senior Prizegiving
We held our Senior Prizegiving yesterday, celebrating the achievements and successes of our senior students across academic, sporting and cultural areas at Whakatāne High School. It was wonderful to have whānau and special guests join us in recognising our students’ hard work and dedication, whether through awards or personal progress, everyone should be proud of their efforts and accomplishments.
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We also farewelled our Year 13 students and heard from our Head Prefects and Principal, whose messages highlighted the commitment and perseverance shown by our seniors throughout the year. Congratulations to everyone who received an award your achievements reflect your hard work and dedication. We wish our Year 13s all the best for the future and the exciting paths that await them beyond Whakatāne High School.
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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼:
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- 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗗𝘂𝘅 - Riley Rutter
- 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘁 - Jayden Hartley de Gouveia
- 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝟭𝟮 - Jonah Te Whau
- 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝟭𝟭 - Terina Patterson-Foster
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼:
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- 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝟭𝟭 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹 - Esther Pearce
- 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝘆 - James McKa
- 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝟭𝟮 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹 - Jiko Bryant
- 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝘆 - Hamish McPherson
- 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝟭𝟯 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹 - Cassie Bennett
- 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝘆 - Lucas Jensen
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼:
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- 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗠ā𝗼𝗿𝗶 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 - Akemi Tutua
- 𝗛𝘂𝗶𝗮 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝗮𝗵𝗮 - Temuraoteahi Kalan
- 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 - Waimania Papuni
- 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 - Monique Prasad
- 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 - Jai Julian
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More photos are available on our Facebook page.
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𝗪𝗛𝗦 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲
We’re excited to share an update on our wharenui journey. Since 2023, a dedicated team of whānau and community members has been working alongside our kura to shape the future of the cultural heart of our kura.
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Back in 2023, we held many Wharenui Wānanga, inviting students, whānau, and our wider community to come together and share their thoughts about our current wharenui complex and aspirations for the future. It was a special time to reflect on what we love about our kura, learn about the whakapapa of the wharenui, and look through old photos capturing significant moments in our school’s history.
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The hui sparked rich kōrero about our hopes for WHS students and helped us begin shaping a collective vision for the wharenui complex. Stories were shared over kai, and there was a strong sense of excitement for the journey ahead.
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Fast forward to 2025, we have taken all of the kōrero and aspirations from these wānanga and worked with Ōrua Architecture to design something that reflects our shared vision. We’re proud and excited to share the approved concept design with our WHS whānau and community. The journey continues, stay tuned and be part of what’s next!
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Student Librarian Appreciation
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Huge thanks to our wonderful Senior Student Librarians for 2025. They have been an incredible help in the Library this year, and we thank them for their hard work and dedication.
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𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝟭𝟯 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀' 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿
On Tuesday evening, we celebrated the Class of 2025 with our Year 13 Leavers’ Dinner. It was a special opportunity for students and mentor teachers to come together for an evening of reflection and appreciation as they prepare to finish their journey at Whakatāne High School.
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Heartfelt speeches and thoughtful gifts were shared, highlighting the strong connections and memories formed over the years. The Year 13s were also given the opportunity to leave parting messages for each other on their leavers’ photo card, as well as celebrate the achievements that don't always get acknowledged, like Best Hair, Best Smile, Most Likely To, and more.
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Our Head Prefects led the evening beautifully with the support of Ms Ranapia. Special mention also to Ms Eves and Cracked Pepper Catering for helping make the night such a success.
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WHS PREMIER SPORTS AWARDS
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Nominations for the WHS Annual Sports Awards that will be held on 28th November 2025 are now open. Complete the nomination form here. Nominations close on MONDAY 3rd November.
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Health New Zealand Information
- Measles is circulating and is very contagious. There is now measles in Northland, Auckland, Manawatu, Nelson and Wellington, and we expect further cases across New Zealand.
- Watch out for symptoms – fever, cough, runny nose, sore eyes, and a blotchy rash. Visit this link for further information.
- Anyone with measles symptoms must stay at home and should seek urgent advice by ringing their doctor or Healthline on 0800 611 116.
- Anyone who is closely exposed to a measles case must stay at home. Heath New Zealand will provide individuals with advice on a case-by-case basis (including when they can leave quarantine at home).
- Health New Zealand is actively working with the schools that currently have measles cases.
- People are considered immune to measles after having two doses of a measles vaccine from 12 months or older, or if you have had measles before. For more information on measles immunity visit:
- Please check your own and your child/childrens’ immunisation status through My Health Record.
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