On Friday 31 January, Nelson College for Girls held a ceremony to present taonga to the 2014 kaitaunaki.
The role of kaitaunaki was established around 2000 on the initiative of two senior Māori students, who wanted to mentor younger Māori students, who often found college a daunting place. The role of kaitaunaki is to be a voice for Māori students, to listen to their problems and dreams and to promote a positive view of Māori within the wider school. The role has grown and the kaitaunaki, as well as being māngai for Māori students in the school and a part of the senior leader team, also play a huge role in organising and helping with events such as Matariki, Māori Language Week and Cultural Diversity Day. They are young women who other students look up to and many hope to be kaitaunaki themselves when they are seniors.
The taonga presented to the girls was designed and made by Brian Flintoff to recognise the importance of listening and communicating. These have been handed on each year to the two new kaitaunaki. Tea Ngawhika-Elliott received one of the taonga from her school principal. Tea is the eldest of Te Koara Harbourne’s (née Bragg) great grand-children.
In addition to her role as kaitaunaki, Tea is a recipient of academic colours awarded to students who pass NCEA with an excellence endorsement. Tea achieved NCEA endorsed with excellence for the second year running. Her younger sister, Evy, is also a recipient of academic colours for passing NCEA level one, endorsed with excellence. Tea plans to attend the University of Otago in 2015, enrolling in Health Sciences for her first year.
Tea receiving her taonga from her school principal.
Proud mother Kim Ngawhika with her two daughters Evy (left) and Tea.
Tea with her youngest sister, Ani Ngawhika-Elliot, grandmother Robyn Ngawhika (nee Harbourne), great-grandmother Te Koara Harbourne (nee Bragg) and great-aunt Leigh Harbourne from Australia.