Otonga Primary School

23/09/2026

On Tuesday, we had the absolute honour of welcoming 27 South African Principals to our kura following the 2026 International Confederation of Principals' Convention! ✨
We greeted our guests with a haka pōhiri, and they replied with their beautiful waiata. First, they sang "Shosholoza" - a traditional Nguni song originally sung by gold miners, which became an iconic symbol of national unity during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. 🏉🎶
Fun fact: Mr Cunliffe was actually in the stands at Ellis Park that historic day in Johannesburg, watching Nelson Mandela present the Webb Ellis Cup to Francois Pienaar! 🏆🥹
Next came the South African National Anthem, seamlessly weaving together five languages: Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English. 🌍❤️ It was a deeply moving moment, especially for Mr Cunliffe, as he reflected on his own family’s journey over our 21 years here in NZ since leaving SA. 💭✈️
We spent the day sharing stories, discussing our kura, exploring our cultural narrative, and connecting the spirit of Ubuntu ("I am because we are") with Whanaungatanga. Oh, and of course, we devoured some delicious kai including Andrea’s legendary homemade koeksisters! 😋🍩 (Safe to say, those didn't last long!).
A massive thank you to all our staff for being such incredible hosts. Our visitors were utterly blown away by our tamariki, staff, and learning spaces. Hearing their experiences was a powerful reminder of just how fortunate we are in our school community, and how important it is to never take what we have for granted. 💙🏫🌟 Mr Cunliffe🌟

23/09/2026

Last Friday, to celebrate another busy week and our Production, the week prior, the staff decided to unwind the only way we know how: aggressively hurling heavy balls at unsuspecting pins! 🎳
Whānau, the stakes were high because the coveted trophy was officially on the line. 🏆 Sadly, our reigning bowling King, Mr Cunliffe couldn’t be there to defend his title, leaving the throne wide open for the taking! 👑
Let’s just say... if you think students are competitive, you’ve clearly never seen teachers armed with bowling shoes, intense eye contact, and a desperate desire for glory. 👟 Pins were smashed, ego-strikes were rolled, some bowling techniques were unorthodox, and friendship was temporarily put on pause! 🥇😂
A massive congratulations to Andrea for snagging the ultimate win! 🏆🎉 She stealthily snatched victory at the very last second right out of the hands of Mrs. Cunliffe, who fought valiantly to finish a close second! 🥈😱
It was absolute chaotic fun, and we’re already plotting our next showdown! Who’s ready for round two? 🎳🔥🏁

23/09/2026

Celebrating Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori at Otonga! ✨

Last week, Te Kura o Tihiōtonga was buzzing with excitement as we celebrated Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori! Language is alive at our school, and our tamariki embraced every opportunity to uplift, strengthen, and weave te reo Māori into their everyday learning, demonstrating just how eager they are to expand their vocabulary. 🌱

Throughout the week, classes tackled daily te reo challenges, scavenger hunt competitions, and quizzes - earning prizes along the way! 🏆 Tamariki explored a wide range of topics, including:

-Ngā Tae & Ngā Tau: 🎨Practising colours and counting to 10 (and all the way to 100!).
-Ngā Kararehe & Ngā Āhua: 🌿🐦 Learning about native birds (and casting their votes for Bird of the Year!), animals, and shapes.
-Ngā Kupu Tūwāhi: 📍 Using locative words like runga, raro, roto, and waho in full sentences. Ask your tamariki if they can describe where an object is at home - for example, "Kei runga i te tēpu" (The pencil is on the table)! ✏️
-Whakapapa: 🌳 Creating beautiful whānau trees to share their connections.
-Traditional Games: 🪵 Poi, mau rākau, and tī rākau to build rhythm and hand-eye coordination.

To cap off the week, our Junior and Senior Waiata assemblies brought everyone together to sing! 🎶 Seniors learnt ‘E Minaka’, emphasizing the vital importance of speaking te reo Māori every day. Certificates were awarded to classes that participated daily, and an exciting competition between the Year 4, 5, and 6 teams consolidated a week’s worth of learning - congratulations to our Year 4 and 5 team winners! 🥇👏

Ngā mihi nui to all our tamariki and kaiako for making Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori so special, engaging, and fun! 💙

Whaea Arihi, Whaea Shirl, and Whaea Adelle

21/09/2026

Our Kids Online

This is it - your final opportunity to secure tickets for Rob Cope’s "Our Kids Online" presentation happening this Wednesday, 23rd September at 6:30 PM (Rotorua Intermediate)!

If you’ve been meaning to grab tickets, don’t wait until it’s too late. This hard-hitting, R18 evening is designed specifically for parents and caregivers to get ahead of the real digital dangers our kids face every day—from social media traps and cyberbullying to explicit content and screen addiction.

Why you shouldn't skip this:

Real, Practical Help: Walk away with simple, effective steps you can implement at home immediately.
Free $99 Bonus: Every ticket includes full 1-year access to the Parenting in an Online World 101 online course—yours free just for attending!
It Takes a Community: Protecting our tamariki works best when we’re all on the same page.

🎟 Final tickets available now via Eventfinda:

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/our-kids-online-rotorua/rotorua

Give up two hours this Wednesday to safeguard your child's digital world - you won't regret it. See you there!

16/09/2026

Four Winds News here: https://www.otonga.school.nz/?mailpoet_router&endpoint=view_in_browser&action=view&data=WzEzNSwiYTdhMmMxMWUzZDk1IiwwLDAsMCwxXQ

14/09/2026

Burger Drop on a Wednesday, late afternoon - Otonga School staff carpark.

Smash Society: Next available day: Wednesday 16 Sep
Order by 3pm

Please use the following link to order:

https://smash-society-burger.lovable.app

Have a great week!

Pre-order smash burgers for pickup Wednesday 5–6:30pm, Rotorua. 60 burgers only.

14/09/2026

Our Kids Online

On Wednesday, 23rd September, filmmaker and author Rob Cope is coming to Rotorua Intermediate for his "Our Kids Online" presentation.

When: Wednesday, 23rd September at 6:30 PM
Where: Rotorua Intermediate, Malfroy Road

R18 / Adults Only: Please note this presentation covers serious topics and is strictly for adults (no kids or teens).

Hard-Hitting, Hilarious & Practical: Rob doesn't sugarcoat the realities of cyberbullying, social media, adult content, or online safety - he gives you honest insights and practical, simple tools you can start using at home immediately.

Free $99 Value: Every attendee receives a complimentary 1-year subscription to the Parenting in an Online World 101 online course!
Taking one evening out of a busy week to get ahead of digital safety for our tamariki is one of the best investments we can make as a community.

🎟 Grab your tickets here before they sell out:

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/our-kids-online-rotorua/rotorua

We look forward to seeing you there!

14/09/2026

🎥The crew have worked really hard, so Enjoy OOTV Episode #1️⃣1️⃣

11/09/2026

✨ THAT’S A WRAP ON THE GREATEST SHOW! 🎪🎩

And just like that, the curtain has fallen on our final performance!

To our incredible cast, dedicated teachers, hardworking crew, our entire school team and Lakes Performing Arts Centre - WELL DONE and THANK YOU! 👏👏

It took a massive effort from every single person across the school to pull off something this special. Months of rehearsals, sweat, and passion culminated in an unforgettable run, and together, we truly brought the magic to life!

To our amazing audiences who filled the seats and cheered us on - thank you for being part of the magic. We couldn't be prouder of this whole team effort and what was accomplished on that stage. Until 2027...✨

📸Mark Smith NZ

10/09/2026

Four Winds News: https://www.otonga.school.nz/?mailpoet_router&endpoint=view_in_browser&action=view&data=WzEzNCwiZmZiMGM4MzNlOGNiIiwwLDAsMCwxXQ