It was fantastic to have the company of over 200 parents and whānau on Tuesday evening at the Mana Māori Awards to celebrate the success of our rangatahi. A special moment of pride for parents and the school was to celebrate the graduation of nearly 50 Māori Year 13 students. These tauira have shown the manawanui needed to see themselves successfully through five years at Waitākere College, achieving highly in sports, culture, the arts and academics. Ka rawe!

The evening was also an opportunity to see our Kapa Haka perform once more, back from their awesome performance at Te Ahurea Tino Rangatiratanga.

The evening was brought together with a great ceremony, plenty of laughter and kai by the kaiako of Komiti Māori and so ably MC-ed by our wonderful Māori student leaders, Ngā Toa o Mua.  Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.

There were many presentations throughout the evening and our special awards during the evening went to the following students:

Te Rangimārie Award
Milly Wharekura

Makoro   
Stella Tia
Makoro Winner                                      

Pikorua
Danielle Murphy-Stewart
Pikorua Winner          

Te Kauri 
Brook Wells
Te Kauri Winner                                            

Māori Medical Science
Charlotte Harvey                              Top Year 11 Māori Medical Science student
Elisha Evans-Froggatt                      Top Year 12 Māori Medical Science student
Ryley  Falwasser                              Top Year 13 Māori Medical Science student                                  

Te Taonga Puāwaitanga    
Peyton Sumner
2023 Award Winner                                    

Te Mahi ā Te Rēhia      
Taipua Kipa
Award winner 2023

Tu Tama Tane
Matiu Skelling
Tu Tama Tane Winner              

Mana Wahine
Trinity Elliot
Mana Wahine Winner                     

Te Kotahitanga Teina
Gabrielle Manuhuia
Top Junior Māori Academic Achiever                    

Te Taonga Hūmārie  
Brody Harris
Te Taonga Hūmārie Winner

Te Kotahitanga Tuakana   
Shanae Barber Top Māori Academic Achiever