Te Aratai College

Tahuhu Stars!

Last week our Tahuhu Year 7 and 8 held their acknowledgement assembly, celebrating students who have shown the school values through their sport, service to others and their commitment to learning in and outside of the classroom.

We also had the privilege of badging our Year 8 Tahuhu Ariki. Just as our Year 13s have their Senior Prefects, our junior school has the Tahuhu Ariki. It is a role of real responsibility, leading the junior school while preparing for everything that lies ahead here at Te Aratai.

A big thank you to Tahuhu Lead : Ms Deb Young for sharing the explanation with our junior students and teaching staff. A proud moment for our kura. Thank you to our Senior Prefects for supporting the start of the next generation of Leaders.

Te Aratai College - Week 7, Term 2 From the Principal's Desk

Prefect Profile or the Week

Hey everyone! My name is Emmy Walker, and I am one of your Wellbeing Kāhui Leaders for 2026. I’m part of AMC/AVE’s ako class and am also privileged to be one of the captains of our school’s Run Club.

Outside of school, I volunteer with Spirit of Adventure NZ and at my local yacht club. I love running, surfing, swimming, sailing, and honestly anything that gets me outdoors and connected to the water. One of the things I value most is putting my phone down, getting outside into creation, and being present in the moment.

A big part of who I am comes from stepping outside my comfort zone and trying new things. I’ve found that growth happens when we challenge ourselves, meet new people, and say yes to new experiences.

My faith and church community are really important to me and shape how I try to live and lead. They remind me to treat others with kindness, patience, and compassion, and to support people wherever they’re at.

The ngā uara that guide me most are manakitanga and rangatiratanga. To me, manakitanga means caring for others and creating a sense of belonging, while rangatiratanga represents leadership through responsibility, resilience, and encouraging others to believe in themselves.

Being part of our kāhui means helping to create a community where people feel safe to be themselves and supported to grow. As a prefect, I hope to be approachable, positive, and someone students feel comfortable talking to. I’m really looking forward to meeting more of you this year, so please come and say hi if you see me around!

Mā te wā.

Graeme Di**le Foundation Canterbury & Queenstown Thank you 🙏🏾

🚶‍♀️ Every big achievement starts with a single step. 🚶‍♂️

Following on from their Meet the Mentor Workshop and Goal Setting Workshop, our Te Aratai College Project K cohort has officially signed up for the Move Mountains challenge! 🙌

Together with their mentors, these young people are stepping up to take on a challenge that is about so much more than fitness. It's about commitment, courage, resilience, and discovering what can be achieved when you believe in yourself and lean on the support of those around you.

Over the coming weeks, our students will be working towards their goals, encouraging one another, and proving that even the biggest mountains can be conquered one step at a time.

We're excited to watch their journey unfold and celebrate the milestones along the way. 💚

Want to help them move mountains?

👍 Follow their journey
📣 Share this post
💚 Donate if you're able.
https://www.movemountains.co.nz/t/te-aratai-college-team
👏 Leave a message of encouragement for our amazing rangatahi and mentors

**leFoundation

Te Aratai College - Week 6, Term 2 From the Principal's Desk

Prefect Profile of the Week

Malo e lelei! My name is Emeline Palu, a student from 13JJA, and I am serving as one of your Pasifika Kahui for 2026.

I love learning new things, laughing, and spending quality time with my loved ones. Doing the things I love brings me comfort and peace. I’d like to say I’m a bit clumsy and chatty, but quiet at times. I love seeing the people I care about laugh and smile, which is when I am truly being myself. The subjects I enjoy most at school are Biology and History because I learn new things each day and always feel excited about what else there is to discover in them.

The ngā uara I believe I show the most is Manaakitanga, which means showing respect, hospitality, and care towards others. I want to be a leader who people see as someone they can come to whenever they need support, without feeling afraid. Therefore, I am going to help others and uplift everyone around me by making sure they feel welcomed, supported, and valued during their time at Te Aratai.

I am grateful for this opportunity and excited for the year ahead, so if you ever see me around, feel free to come and say hi!

🏀 Whare Basketball : This Week

Our students are competing all week and would love to see you there.

Monday & Tuesday : Senior Basketball

Wednesday & Thursday : Junior Basketball

Friday : Tāhuhu Basketball

Ngā mihi nui to our Whare Leaders for everything they put into making this happen.

Come and support. 🏀

Prefect profile of the Week

Talofa Lava, my name is Montelle Amosa-Gale, and I am one of your Pasifika Kāhui for 2026. I am in 13KBO, and I have been at Te Aratai College since Year 9.

I love rugby. Rugby is my favourite sport, and I have been playing it since I was four years old. I also love watching and talking about rugby. Another thing I enjoy is listening to music. I listen to all kinds of music every day, anywhere and everywhere. I listen to music while getting ready for school, walking to school, driving, relaxing, or even sleeping.

Outside of school, I love going to church. Church is my second home and a place where I can strengthen my relationship with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. My favourite subjects are History and Samoan because they are the subjects that interest me the most.

To me, being part of the Pasifika Kāhui means becoming a role model for my peers and always making an effort to connect with and meet new people. I want to increase the involvement of Pasifika students in school activities and events, such as participating in our language weeks, leadership programmes, and other opportunities that can help them grow and succeed.

The ngā uara that is most important to me is Manaakitanga, which means “the process of showing respect, generosity, and care for others”. Respect, generosity, and care are important to me because, in my culture, demonstrating these values shows that you are a good person.

I want people to feel comfortable talking to me and not be afraid to ask questions. Hopefully, I can help others in any way that I can.

God bless.

Epistle to the Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Te Aratai College - Week 4, Term 2 From the Principal's Desk