On the morning of February 23rd, the atmosphere was one of palpable excitement and pride as our school community gathered for the official Opening Ceremony. Under a brilliant, clear sky.

A Bright New Chapter: Our School Opening Ceremony

On the morning of February 23rd, the atmosphere was one of palpable excitement and pride as our school community gathered for the official Opening Ceremony. Under a brilliant, clear sky.

The ceremony was grounded in tradition and spirit from the very beginning. As the official party took their seats, the morning was formally opened by James Crawford, representing Te Whare Mahana.

James led the school and guests in a powerful Karakia, a moment of reflection that acknowledged the land, the history of the site, and the bright future of the students who will walk these halls. The significance of the moment was deepened as James was joined by his partner, Belinda, and other members of the group to perform He Honore.

The ceremony commenced with the arrival of our distinguished official party, including:

• Miles Anderson,  National MP
• Scott Aronson, Mayor 
• Ruth Sullivan, representing the Ministry of Education

The formal speeches provided a moment to reflect on the journey to this milestone. We heard from our MP, the Mayor, and Ministry representatives, followed by heartfelt addresses from Rebecca, Lily, and Vicki.

The collective voice of the school then rose in a powerful rendition of Ko te Whirika, a moment of song that echoed through the new campus.

Symbols of Growth: Ribbon and Trees

The "official" opening was marked by MP Miles Anderson cutting the ceremonial ribbon, assisted by students Ryder and Ruby. Following this, the crowd transitioned toward the garden bed near Room 8 for two deeply symbolic traditions:

• Tree Planting: Representing our past, present, and future. Participants included Belinda, Mackenzie, Cam, Anastacia, Lily, and our youngest representatives, Finn and Elijah from Kindy and Esme and Oliver from Telc.
• Sod Returning: Using a ceremonial spade from the Ministry of Education, Indie and Ted returned it to the earth, completing the circle of construction.

After a final full-school performance of Toku Reo and a student led Haka, the Board Chair and Principal officially closed the ceremony, inviting everyone to share in a wonderful spread of refreshments. Under the veranda, guests and students enjoyed:

The celebration didn't end with the food; from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, our senior and junior students paired up to lead guided tours, proudly showing off their new learning spaces to families and invited guests.

It was a day of sunshine, song, and community—a truly fitting start for our school's future.