Gisborne Girls' High School

In 2010, a Year 12 Health class at Gisborne Girls’ High School, supported by Lytton High School and Gisborne Boys’ High School, carried out an attendance study. The findings showed that during winter, attendance was a real challenge for students living in Kaiti.
At the time, Kaiti students made up over 29% of the roll at each of our three secondary schools — more than 740 students travelling across town every day. Many students had to walk long distances just to reach a bus stop, pay for transport within city limits, and were not always guaranteed a ride. For some, the journey to school was longer than that of rural students who received free bus transport.
With all secondary schools located on the west side of the city, students recognised this as unfair and a barrier to learning. So they took action.
Students organised a hikoi from Waikirikiri School to Gisborne Girls’ High School. Hundreds of people joined in support, and the hikoi was a powerful success. As a result, the Gisborne District Council voted to provide a free daily bus service from Kaiti to GGHS.
The GGHS community remains extremely grateful for this support and believes it is important that all students who use the Kaiti bus know this history — and treat the service with respect.
Ngā mihi

Today our kura and manuhiri came together to formally welcome our new Tumuaki, Mrs Bindy Hannah, through a beautiful and powerful pōwhiri.

The welcome was led by a Kāhui Toa of Ngā Manu Tangi Ata students alongside their kaiako, delivering a matataki that set the wairua for the day. Our whole school was able to be a part of this as we gathered around our whare, Te Raukura. Following the pōwhiri was the presentation of the GGHS Tumuaki korowai, handed on from our previous Tumuaki, Mrs Kumar to Mrs Hannah.

Mrs Hannah then shared her aspirations as our new Tumuaki, and in a doing so, she has given us all a clear goal to work towards together, as one collective. The day concluded with the whole school coming together for a hakari, celebrating this significant milestone in the life of our kura.

Ngā mihi nui to the many hands who worked behind the scenes to ensure the day ran smoothly - He rau ringa e oti ai. A special mention to our Ngā Manu Tangi Ata Rōpū for all their hard work in their first few days of school this year.

Nau mai rā, Mrs Bindy Hannah. We look forward to the journey ahead.

Mōrena koutou,
It is with disappointment that I have to share this email with whanau. We have been broken into on several occasions this year. Fencing has been snipped, doors broken and wheels removed from our trailer while in the school grounds. The school is alarmed and cameras are also around the school and this is still happening. We would love it if we could all have our eyes and ears out looking for the following items that have been stolen, on market place or just word of mouth:

De Walt battery line trimmer
De Walt 9 a/hr battery
Stihl petrol blower
Stihl FS45 line trimmer
Stihl pole saw attachment for FS45
Stihl RMA 510 battery mower
Stihl AP300 battery
Stihl battery charger
2 x 20L red plastic petrol cans
1 x 10L red plastic petrol can
1 x 5L red plastic petrol can
Giant Cypress mens hybrid bike, black
The police have been informed and if you have any information on any of these items, this is the file number: 260207/4448.

Please help keep our GGHS community safe.
Ngā mihi

The Year 9 classes ended their whakawhanaungatanga with a friendly inter-class tabloid competition. Thank you to the Prefects and Form Teachers for all their work in bringing the Year 9's into the GGHS whanau.

Last night we held a powhiri for our new students. Another beautiful event on a fabulous warm evening. Our Year 9 students, their form teachers and the prefects will have a very busy next two days working on whanaungatanga. Kia pai tō rā

Mōrena. A reminder we have powhiri tonight for all our Year 9 and new ākonga and whānau. Meet at the Stanley Road gate for a 5:15pm start. Ākonga are required to wear uniform.
😊

We had our Staff Only Day yesterday. All about whanaungatanga. We started with some learning activities led by Tari Māori and in the afternoon we had some fun with an inter house competition. Lysnar were the winners of the first house points of 2026.

We held a powhiri yesterday to welcome our new staff to Tūranga Wahine. it was such a lovely event. The whare looked stunning with a new paint job and the grounds were looking immaculate also.
'Nau mai haere mai ki tō tatou kura nei"

Happy New Year and welcome back to Kura for 2026! Please see the attached Pānui with some key dates coming up.

Congratulations to our Hinetu, Karen Johansen. Well-deserved for a lifetime of service.

Former Gisborne teacher and human rights commissioner made MNZM Kāren Johansen recognised in New Year Honours for services to education and human rights.

Great to see the amazing success of our alumni. As well as her research work, Ngahuia gave her time to our students this year supporting our Student Governance Council to develop our school’s new Strategic Plan. It was so valuable to have one of our Hinetu sharing her experience and expertise.

Congratulations Lee and Hannah! 😊😊😊🎉👏👏

Rua Bioscience has awarded 14 undergraduate scholarships, each valued between $600 and $1,000, to support Tairawhiti learners in their tertiary study pursuits. The programme is supported by Trust Tairawhiti and is aimed at reducing barriers to study while strengthening the long-term capability of the region.

While Rua Bioscience operates within the health science sector, the scholarship programme supports students across a wide range of disciplines, including health, science, engineering, arts, commerce and other areas of study. This approach reflects Rua’s commitment to developing a more capable and qualified workforce and supporting diverse career pathways, with the hope that recipients will one day return with their skills to Te Tairawhiti.

Rua Bioscience Chief Executive Paul Naske says the programme is about long-term regional impact.

“This scholarship programme is about investing in the future of Tairawhiti. By supporting tauira across many fields, we are backing the next generation of leaders, professionals and creatives who we hope will bring their knowledge home and contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of the region.”

2025 Rua Bioscience Undergraduate Scholarship Recipients:

• Paimarire Heeney Haua – Electrician, Wintec
(TKKM o Te Waiu o Ngati Porou)
• Kingston Walker-McClutchie – Engineering, Wintec
(TKKM o Te Waiu o Ngati Porou)
• Kamaia Keelan-Richards – Nursing, EIT
(Ngata Memorial College)
• Aali Rasmussen-Banks – Nursing, EIT
(Ngata Memorial College)
• John-Sonny Blackman – Marine Biology, Victoria University
(Tolaga Bay Area School)
• Te Huia Kohatu – Business Studies, Victoria University
(Tolaga Bay Area School)
• Omaio Waititi – Commerce, University of Auckland
(TKKM o Horouta Wananga)
• Maikel Taihuka Terekia – Screen Arts and Toi Maori, Massey University – Wellington
(TKKM o Horouta Wananga)
• Lee Waere Maynard – Science (Biomedical Science), University of Auckland
(Gisborne Girls High)
• Hannah Andrew – Vet Science, Massey University
(Gisborne Girls High)
• Jett Whitaker – Science (Environmental Science), Victoria University
(Gisborne Boys High)
• Hugo Emerre – Commerce (Finance and Economics), University of Otago
(Gisborne Boys High)
• Payton Hick – Science, Victoria University
(Lytton High)
• Danni Smith-Morgan – Commerce, Victoria University
(Lytton High)