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WHAKATANE HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
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Issue 16 - 16 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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Welcome back to Term Four. For our seniors, this is an important time for them to ensure they are both on track to achieve at their level, and to prepare for their upcoming exams in November. There is still much to do. Our achievement team and Heads of Departments are identifying students that will need to stay at school once study leave starts on October 31st. Students will be contacted to come in to complete their learning and assessments so that they are successful.
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For our juniors, the next few weeks are full of learning and crucial assessments which will continue to set them up for next year. At a recent assembly, I acknowledged the respect they showed throughout the busy last two weeks of Term 3. They behaved excellently during our Open Day when we had over 500 visitors walking around our school, and they were quiet and considerate around senior exams. We are always proud when our students exhibit our school values so well.
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Enrolments for 2026 have yet again been strong. We held our Out of Zone ballot today and whānau are being advised of the outcome via email during the course of the afternoon. This is a really difficult process for us and we recognise the disappointment and anxiety that can accompany such a process.
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I was lucky enough to travel to Taiwan during the holidays with six other teachers and four students to begin to nurture our relationship with Penghu High School who have an amazing Marine facility in their school. The hospitality we were shown was incredible and we are looking forward to reciprocating when they visit us either in November or early in the 2026 year.
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Finally, I wish to congratulate our combined Hillary Team (with Trident) who came 3rd in the National competition over the holidays. This is a fantastic achievement and it is great that both schools can contribute their strengths to form a top team.
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As ever I want to thank our dedicated teachers and staff for all their work. Working during the day from the hours of 8.30 to 3 is the tip of the iceberg of what they do and their commitment to ensuring students have positive outcomes and varied experiences is something of which we should all be proud.
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Kia whakapau kaha koe i te rā whakatā - Enjoy your weekend.
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BOP Model United Nations Competition
In the weekend, Jonah Te Whau, Taylor Dain, Tukotahi Rapana, Sarah Banks, Japleen Bajwa, Michelle Nyakawa, Aradia Finch and Ezra Pickett attended the Bay of Plenty Model United Nations Competition in Tauranga.
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The first day was the model parliament where students were placed into political parties with their political position being either left, centre or right and they debated legislation on the Corelia Bill of Rights. They then processed this proposed legislation through ‘The House’ until it was at its Third Reading, and either passed or not. In between that, delegates sat on committees of UNESCO on Combating Educational Restrictions; the UNSC (Security Council) The question of Treaties in Armed Conflict and UNEP (Environment Council) addressing the Protection of the Ocean Environment. Delegates (students are called delegates) were given resolutions to discuss and debate, ultimately rewriting and reframing the resolution into a workable document that the caucus can accept as a workable document.
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The plenary session was Strengthening Global Cooperation to Prevent Terrorism. There was lively debate on this topic, and as the delegates unpacked this, they came to a reasonable solution for the caucus with a majority vote. In the Model UN, students are allocated a country. They must research their country thoroughly, and at the UN Caucus, they represent the views of their country only, not Aotearoa New Zealand. All the schools of the BOP were represented, and over the two days, students had a lot of fun, discussion and debate, strengthening their knowledge and understanding of global issues through the UN, and the Model Parliament.
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Huge thanks must go to Ben Banks for being extraordinary and being our driver both days, without Ben, these students may have missed a fabulous opportunity to debate and discuss global issues and meet like minded teenagers like themselves.
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ManaFit
ManaFit, the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) team of Marky Robinson (Chief Executive Officer); Joella Anderson (Marketing and Production Manager); Jasper House (Chief Financial Officer); Puhinoa Tangaroatuane (Production Manager); and Te Tokatumoana McGarvey (Cultural Consultant), were selected to be one of five YES Bay of Plenty Regional finalists for their business producing and selling ManaFit Compression Sleeves for athletes and sportspeople.
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They had four challenges to complete throughout the year, validation of their product, pitching their product to business people, promotion and sales, and their Annual Review. ManaFit gained excellent results in all of four challenges, alongside making over $1,500. At the Regional Finals, they were runner up for their Financial Reporting. With the Validation Challenge, they came to the attention of Pukaea, and were interviewed on TV. They also had an excellent presence on social media, Tik Tok, and Instagram.
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At the YES BOP Regional Finals, ManaFit gave their best performance, and whilst they did not win the trophy, the judges were very impressed with their product and see a huge future for Manafit. They also learned some more vital skills about business, and they have been given leads to get connected with the Steamers and Chiefs, alongside sound advice of how to connect with other sports codes.
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ManaFit is very fortunate to have two business mentors, and huge thanks must go to Cameron Phillips, a former WHS student and Motuhora Tourism Guide, and Kerry Bennett, a local accountant who was there every step of the way. She was instrumental in ensuring their financial information was undertaken properly, hence their runner-up in this area. It was a pleasure to be a part of ManaFit, and I know we will see more from ManaFit as their business grows from strength to strength in the years to come.
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The Young Enterprise Scheme in 2025 is a New Zealand-based programme that gives secondary school students the opportunity to run their own real business from start to finish. It provides hands-on experience in business and life skills like innovation, planning, marketing, and financial management.
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Taiwan
In the second week of the school holidays, seven teachers and four Year 11 students travelled to Taiwan on a cultural and marine exchange, visiting our friends at Penghu Marine and Fisheries Vocational High School.
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From the moment they arrived, the Penghu High School community were incredible hosts, making the group feel welcome and showing true warmth and hospitality (manaakitanga).
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The purpose of the trip was to strengthen connections with Penghu and explore possible future exchange opportunities for WHS students in the future. The group are excited about the opportunities this new relationship will bring. 🤩🤝
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They kicked things off in the bustling city of Taipei, adjusting to the heat, sampling amazing food, and soaking up the city’s energy. Highlights included visiting the towering Taipei 101 and the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office (NZCIO).
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Next stop was the beautiful island of Penghu, where the group enjoyed cooking classes, marine lessons, and even snorkelling in tropical waters. The kaimoana (seafood) was a standout, and a visit to the local fish market was an eye opener 🐟.
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Finally, the group flew to Kaohsiung, where the students’ growing confidence shone as they explored the city, including a cruise on the famous “Love Boat.”
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It was an incredible experience for both teachers and students to share their own culture while immersing themselves in a new one. The best part? Penghu High School will be visiting WHS in November, and our kura is excited to manaaki (host) them in return. 🙌👏
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We are still taking expressions of interest for this trip in 2026.
Expressions of interest will remain open until after the enrolment ballot has been held. Students who are currently in Year 8 or 9 in 2025 are eligible to express an interest in this trip.The teams the school will be taking are:
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- Boys and Girls Rugby 7s
- Boys and Girls Football 7s
- Girls Netball
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You can fill out the link below, or email sport@whs.co.nz to express interest and also to request a copy of the presentation. Information about trials will be sent out after enrolments have been confirmed.
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Hawaiian Visit
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Last week, Te Aka Matua had the pleasure of welcoming Pūpūkahi I Ke Alo O Nā Pua, a hālau hula (hula school) from Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, with a pōhiri. Based at Mid-Pacific Institute in Mānoa, the group was founded in 1988 by Kumu Hula Michael Nālanakilaʻekolu Casupang to share the art of hula.
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It was especially meaningful to host them, as several members had previously visited Whakatāne High School and welcomed our students and staff during a past trip to Hawaiʻi. Over the years, we’ve built a wonderful relationship with some of the teachers, who have truly become like our ʻohana.
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The group spent the morning engaging with our tauira through a range of activities, and it was very special to reconnect and share time together again at our kura. 🖤💛🤍
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HILLARY CHALLENGE
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Huge congratulations to our combined WHS/Trident adventure racing team for bringing home the bronze medal in the 25th National Hillary Challenge Final! What an incredible display of teamwork, courage, skill and tenacity from this team in a week of tough competition and wild weather! Also special mention to Jai Julian who won a navigational award for his skill on the 2 day mountain expedition! We would like to thank our amazing coaches - Craig and Ella Julian - for preparing them and encouraging them through the week and all of our sponsors for helping us get there!
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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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MOLLY IS A RISING STAR
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Outshining a strong field of talented WHS and Trident High School girls, Molly Wratt was recently awarded the Whakatane Women’s Football team's well deserved rising star award.
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