Kahurangi Dance Company

We were very fortunate to have Kahurangi Dance Company from Heretaunga perform for our school.  They were very talented and taught us some Maori myths and legends in a fun and interactive way.  Students and staff thoroughly enjoyed the hour long performance.  Bryan from our room was lucky to be chosen to go up on stage to 'mimic' their movements.  It was very entertaining watching student teacher Mr Mustard do the same and based on Bryan's smile it looked like he had a wonderful time.  The cost of this performance was heavily subsidised by Waihi Central so a big thank you to those families who have paid the $2.00 per student.  It's not too late to get your $2.00 to me!  There are more photos - click on the link to the right.

Matariki Dawn Viewing

On Sunday, 23rd June a great number of our local community braved a cool morning and early start to view Matariki in our dawn sky.  It was wonderful to look out over Bowentown and see Matariki hanging low in the sky just before the sun rose.  Here's a couple of photos of Zak, his Nana and I at the event.  Further below I have copied and pasted Alistair Cochrane's wonderful words describing the morning and thanking those involved.

Kia ora tatou

This morning I braved a chilly dawn (6.00am) today to join approximately 100 others on slopes of the Bowentown lookout to celebrate the arrival of Matariki (The Maori New Year).

A crystal clear sky filled with stars and a large retreating moon glistened over our shoulders.  The shimmering waters of Bowentown harbour reflected the moons magnificence as it prepared to drop below the western horizon and allow a beautiful dawn  to set an awesome start not only to a new day but also the start of the Maori new year.

We were spell bound by the mystical korero of Reon Tuanau (Otawhiwhi) as he first welcomed us to this special place and then shared the significance and importance of the arrival of Matariki to not just Maori but to us all as New Zealanders. Reon identified the position of the stars, told stories of the past. He explained that Matariki represented a time for reflecting on the past and preparing for the future and  he challenged us to think about and set personal and group aspirations. As the dawn started to lighten the sky the closing karakia and waiata (Whakaaria mai) filled my soul and sent me eager into a magnificent new day.

Thank you to all involved in organising this event especially.

·         Waihi Beach School (Staff and supporters) you are to congratulated not just for organising an event that allowing us to share the significance of special celebrations (Matariki) and the wisdom of our local people and special places but also for the magnificent soup and bread to warm our tummies.

·         Reon Tuanau and Whanau Otawhiwhi, Thank you for sharing with our community the importance of Matariki and the special place Bowentown. Your passion was obvious and freely shared and I was moved by the korero.

Pai mutunga.

What a magnificent start to a fantastic new day.

 Alistair Cochrane

Waihi College Principal

Surgery Postponed

Due to medication I had been prescribed for a chest infection my surgery was unable to go ahead on Friday. I am hoping to be rescheduled for this coming Friday but it will be dependent on the surgeon's schedule and being 100% well. The final decision will be made by the anesthetist on the day.  I will therefore be back in the classroom for most of next week which I'm looking forward to.