Congratulations
Kelly Laugesen’s granddaughters had a great year at school last year. Summah Laugesen (year 8) at Kirkwood Intermediate was awarded the Kirkwood Intermediate Speech Trophy. Summah also won the speech competition the year before. In 2012 she went on to represent Kirkwood Intermediate at the Rotary finals and came third.
Younger sister Ruby recieved the academic achievement award for St Teresa’s Primary and she also went to a talented writers’ workshop in the fourth term. Older sister Mollie, who attends Villa Maria College, is waiting for her official results for level 1 NCEA. She had the required credits to pass level one prior to sitting her external exams. Ka pai tamariki mā.
Nā Paula Laugesen.
Ngāi Tūāhuriri rangatahi achieves
Congratulations Maui Brennan, mokopuna of Ramari and Hori Brennan. Māui left St Pauls Intermediate School with the academic award in 2011 and had a very successful first year at St Bedes College. Māui won 11 academic awards. Maui also achieved eight distinction awards in Mathematics, Social Studies and Technology, The Arts (Music), Religious Education, Spanish, Japanese and Te Reo Māori. Māui was also the recipient of two awards for first in Spanish and Japanese. He was also the winner of the Senator Robert Kennedy Cup for general knowledge. Outside of school Maui successfully completed his year six exams in piano and music theory with the London based Trinity Guildhall School of Music.
Kapa haka performance
Peyton Morete (aged 10) recently performed in her first kapa haka festival on the Kāpiti Coast. Her school Te Horo performed for the first time in the 19-years the Kāpiti Coast festival has been going. Peyton is a talented singer songwriter as well and will be performing on Māori TV next year on a new show called My Country Song.
Peyton Morete.
Rāpaki rangatahi represents!
Waiariki Paraone (son of Ripeka and Patrick Paraone) proudly stands beside his Tāua Reihana Parata with the trophy for Top Junior Māori Student at Linwood College 2012. He also received certificates for first Māori Option Year 10, 2nd Art Option Year 10 and a positive behaviour for learning award.
Waiariki is a stalwart kapa haka performer for Rāpaki and Taumutu at Te Atakura, he also performs for Te Ahikaaroa Kapa Haka and represented Waitaha at the national secondary kapa haka competitions in Whangarei. He is also the talented lead singer of our local band the Pā Kids.
Waiariki with his Tāua Reihana Parata.
Taumutu Proxime Accessit
Congratulations to Thomas Hill-Taiaroa (Teihoka whānau – great grandson of Lena Sheehan) for being awarded Proxime Accessit at Kaiapoi High School and gaining an excellence endorsement in level 3 English, merit endorsement in level 3 History and a NCEA level 3 merit overall. He is studying Law at the University of Canterbury this year.
Waihao rangatahi achieves
Caleb Thurlow, descendant of Rawiri Te Maire, Kāti Hāteatea, Kāi Tahu, Kaipuke Kāti Māmoe and mokopuna of Tāua Lorraine Smitheram Baylis has achieved a lot in sport over the last two years, including being awarded his black belt and making representative hockey teams. Below he writes:
My name is Caleb Thurlow, I am 17-years-old. I am writing about my accomplishments in sport. I gained my Kyokushin Karate Black Belt in October 2010, which now ranks me as a teacher. I have completed the basic training of a learner and now am able to teach students willing to learn. I went through pain, emotions, sweat and all my energy in that dojo (grading/practicing hall).
We began the training three months before the black belt grading, I was unfit and never knew how much I had to know. I was close to giving up but I prevailed and pushed myself further than I have before. I increased my training time doing more each week, studying for the theory exam and kept at it for weeks until the day I flew to Auckland.
I got to the grading dojo complex and straight away we went for a 3km run, as soon as we got back we had to do all warm ups in Japanese. I was fortunate enough to be selected to lead the whole warm up. Then everybody had to do the basic 40 to 50 techniques, by this time I was sweating, but I didn’t want to show the instructors and judges.
After seven hours of grading including, a fight section of 32 fights 1 on 1 with other karate members, 100 knuckle press ups, handstands for 2min and a kata section, my name was finally called and I received my black belt. It was one of the happiest days of my life. The next morning I couldn’t move.
Also that year I made the U/15 South Canterbury Hockey team. We went to the national tournament held in Masterton. There were some amazing teams and I made new friendships with people. Looking back now, I thought I was a terrible player but I got better every game I played.
I took up a leadership role at Mountainview High School as Sports Captain in 2012. I was selected for the under 18 Mid/South Canterbury Hockey team, and we went to Palmerston North.
I would like to thank Ngāi Tahu for sponsoring me to get me to the U/18 Tournament in Palmerston North in July 2012 and Te Rūnanga o Waihao Marae thank you for your help.
Thank you,
Caleb Thurlow.
Caleb Thurlow leading the warm up during his black belt grading.
Ōraka Aparima Rangatahi
Tekiriahi and Maere-Ana Weston attend Hukarere Māori Girls College as boarders. Maere-Ana was awarded top netballer, softballer, basketballer and swimmer. Tekiriahi took the Junior Sportswoman of the year an award which Maere-Ana held last year. Both girls also achieved off the field, they passed their junior diplomas and NCEA level 2 and 3 te reo internal exams and are awaiting their results for their externals. Tekiriahi is also a member of the Hutt Valley U/15 girls softball representative team.
From left; Maere-Ana Weston 15 (year 10) and Tekiriahi Weston 13 (year 9).
Waimarie Weston competed at the recent Auckland Junior Swimming Championships. Waimarie was awarded two silver and three bronze medals, competing against other South Pacific Countries (New Caledonia, Tahiti, Samoa to name a few). This gave Waimarie a good opportunity to face her opponents before competing at the New Zealand Junior Championships in February. She is also a member of the Hutt Valley U/11 girls softball team.
Waimarie Weston.
Tomairangi Weston competed at the recent Auckland Junior Swimming Championships, placing in the top 10 for her age group, she also competed at the New Zealand Junior Championships in February. She is also a member of the Hutt Valley U/13 girls softball team and the U/13 Ikaroa ki te tonga Māori netball team.
Tomirangi Weston.