Term Four Week 4

Tēnā koutou katoa

What a special week it has been at Hastings Girls’ High School as we have come together to celebrate the achievements, contributions and journeys of our senior students.

We began on Monday with our Recognition Assembly, acknowledging students who have demonstrated commitment, perseverance and achievement throughout the year. On Wednesday morning, we gathered for our Year 13 Leavers’ Breakfast, a wonderful opportunity to share memories, reflect on friendships and celebrate the journey our senior students have taken together. It was a particularly special occasion as we prepared to farewell a remarkable group of young women who have contributed so much to our kura.

Our celebrations continued with Senior Prizegiving, where we recognised outstanding academic achievement, leadership, sporting and cultural excellence. Congratulations to all our prize recipients. We are incredibly proud of your achievements and the dedication and determination that have brought you this success.

As I reflected in my Prizegiving speech, 2026 has truly been a year of firsts.

For many of our students, this year has brought new experiences, challenges and opportunities. From stepping into leadership roles and representing our kura on the national stage to discovering new passions and achieving personal milestones, our girls have continued to demonstrate courage, resilience and a willingness to embrace new challenges.

As a school, we have also celebrated some significant milestones. Our 70th anniversary has allowed us to reflect on the strong foundations laid by those who came before us, while looking ahead to the future we are creating together. We have strengthened our relationship with Hastings Boys’ High School, introduced our first Academic Blazers and Prefects’ ties, and expanded opportunities through initiatives such as our Give It a Go programme. Looking ahead to 2027, our new NEST learning programme will provide further targeted support in literacy and numeracy.

While this week has been about recognising achievement, I also want to acknowledge those students whose successes may not be celebrated on stage. Those who have improved their attendance, persevered through challenges, developed stronger learning habits or simply found the confidence to try something new are equally deserving of our pride. Success takes many forms, and every step forward matters.

To our Year 13 students, particularly our Head Girl Mennat Quazi, Amorangi Maieke Thompson and our departing Student Leaders, thank you for the contribution you have made to our kura. You have led with pride, kindness and commitment, and we wish you every success as you begin your next chapter. I encourage all our students to make the most of their years at school, embrace every opportunity and gain the qualifications that will open doors to their futures.

Finally, thank you to our dedicated staff, Board, whānau and wider community for the countless ways you support our young women. Behind every achievement is a network of people who encourage, guide and believe in our students. Your contribution is deeply appreciated.

As we farewell our senior students and look towards the future, I am reminded that the values of whakawhanaungatanga, manaakitanga, whakaute, pono and kaitiakitanga remain at the heart of everything we do. They are the foundations upon which we continue to build confident, compassionate and capable young women.

Congratulations to all our students on a remarkable year.

Ākina – Strive for Excellence.

Ngā mihi nui

Lisa Akers
Principal

What a wonderful and memorable week it has been celebrating our senior students! Throughout the week, we honoured the hard work, perseverance, and outstanding achievements of our seniors. We began with our Recognition Assembly and culminated in our Senior Prizegiving, where we proudly celebrated top academic, cultural, and sporting achievements from across the year. It was a true privilege to acknowledge their success alongside our staff, whānau, and school community.

A particularly special highlight was our Year 13 Leavers’ Breakfast. Our graduating students gathered to share memories, reflect on their journey through school, and celebrate the strong connections they’ve built over the years. We extend our warmest wishes to our Year 13s as they prepare to step into their next exciting chapter – you will always remain a valued part of our kura.

Pastoral Care Update

We are delighted to welcome back “Old Girl” Jamie Te Are to our kura as a Youth Worker on our pastoral team! Having Jamie join us in this role brings a wonderful connection back to our school community, and her support will be invaluable in guiding, empowering, and mentoring our rangatahi.

Attendance Update

Our school-wide attendance is currently sitting at 82.8%. While this reflects a strong commitment across our community, we want to remind everyone that every single day counts. Consistent attendance creates the foundation for learning, growth, and personal achievement. Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting and encouraging your rangatahi to be here every day.

Thank you to all our families and community members for your ongoing support of our school!

It is with immense pride that we congratulate Mennat Quazi who was named Dux of Hastings Girls’ High School for 2026, our school’s highest academic honour.

Mennat’s outstanding academic achievements are a reflection of her exceptional dedication, determination and commitment to excellence throughout her five years at Hastings Girls’.

At Thursday evening’s Senior Prizegiving, Mennat received an impressive collection of academic honours, including:

• 1st in Chemistry
• 1st in Mathematics with Statistics
• 1st in Painting
• 2nd in Biology
• Excellence in History
• Rhodes Shield for Top Science Scholar
• Hughes Cup for Highest Grade Point Average in Level 2 NCEA in 2025

Alongside her academic success, Mennat was also recognised with the Vogtherr Award, our school’s most prestigious citizenship award, celebrating her outstanding diligence, leadership and reliability.

As our 2026 Head Girl, Mennat has led with integrity, kindness and a genuine commitment to supporting others. Her contribution to school life was further acknowledged through the Board of Trustees and Principal’s Awards for Head Girl.

Mennat has also secured the University of Otago Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship and the University of Waikato Te Paewai o te Rangi Scholarship, recognising her achievements and future potential.

To achieve at such an exceptional academic level while giving so much to her school community is a remarkable accomplishment.

Congratulations, Mennat! You have been an outstanding role model for our young wāhine, and we are incredibly proud of all you have achieved. We wish you every success as you begin your next chapter beyond Hastings Girls’.

A huge congratulations to Rahma Miah who was awarded Proxime Accessit for 2026 at Thursday evening’s Senior Prizegiving, recognising her as the second-highest academic achiever at Hastings Girls’ High School.

This prestigious honour celebrates Rahma’s exceptional academic performance, dedication and perseverance throughout her senior studies.

Rahma has demonstrated outstanding ability across a range of subjects, particularly in the sciences, mathematics and humanities.

Her achievements in 2026 include:

• 1st in History
• 2nd in Chemistry
• 2nd equal in Mathematics with Statistics
• Excellence in Biology
• Excellence in Health Studies

Rahma’s achievements reflect not only her academic ability but also the consistent hard work, focus and determination she has shown throughout her time at Hastings Girls’.

The Proxime Accessit is one of our school’s highest academic distinctions, recognising a student who has demonstrated excellence across her studies and an exceptional commitment to learning.

Congratulations, Rahma! We are incredibly proud of your achievements and the example you have set for other students. We wish you every success as you take the next steps in your academic journey.

Our Senior Prizegivings provided an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding academic achievements of our ākonga across NCEA Levels 1, 2 and 3.

From students achieving at the highest level in their subjects to those recognised through our Te Manawa Wairua awards for significant improvement, determination and perseverance, we are incredibly proud of the commitment shown to learning throughout 2026.

Our top academic achievers at each level were also recognised:

• Level 1: Lakshita Sharma – Top Academic Performance; Arnika Warren – Drake Family Cup for All Round Excellence; Anaia Ropiha – Wrightson Cup for Most Improved Academic Performance.
• Level 2: Niranjana Subhash – Top Academic Performance and Langton Cup for Highest Grade Point Average at Level 1 NCEA in 2025; Daphney Vea – Drake Family Cup for All Round Excellence.
• Level 3: Zoey Ortega – Endeavour Cup for Te Manawa Wairua.

We also celebrated our students’ success in securing tertiary scholarships and recognised those excelling through vocational pathways, Gateway and Trades Academy programmes. Special congratulations to Jessica Sunder, the inaugural recipient of the Alterno Foundation Scholarship.

Every award presented across our two ceremonies represents hours of learning, commitment and personal growth. We congratulate all our academic award recipients and acknowledge the teachers, staff and whānau who have supported them throughout their journey.

Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu – Adorn the bird with feathers so it may fly.

Sport continues to be an important part of life at Hastings Girls’ and this week’s Senior Prizegivings provided an opportunity to recognise the dedication, teamwork and outstanding achievements of our senior athletes.

Across a wide range of sporting codes, our wāhine have represented their school, region and country with pride, demonstrating resilience, determination and a commitment to giving their best.

A special congratulations to Teiyah Fomai, who was awarded the Bentley Cup for Dux Ludorum – Sportswoman of the Year. Teiyah’s exceptional sporting achievements span rugby, rugby league and volleyball, including selection for the Melbourne Storm U19 Rugby League team. Teiyah was unable to attend Thursday’s ceremony as she was in Australia training with the Melbourne Storm, with her sister Kiera proudly accepting the award on her behalf.

Congratulations also to Pattreece Andersen, named Female All-Rounder of the Year. Pattreece has demonstrated remarkable versatility across touch rugby, netball, rugby, rugby league and tag, including representing New Zealand in tag.

Our Senior A Volleyball Team was named Sports Team of the Year, recognising the team’s collective success, commitment and contribution to sport at Hastings Girls’. Individual volleyball honours included Kiera Fomai and Imila Valoaga, joint Senior A Most Valuable Players, and Danielle Mark, who received both Most Improved Player and Best Team Player.

In netball, Ruby Taylor received the prestigious Senior Player of the Year award, alongside Senior A Most Valuable Player. Paige Armstrong and Arnika Warren were jointly recognised as Senior A Most Dedicated Players, while Stevie-Lee Cargill received Senior A Most Improved Player.

Our badminton awards recognised Micah Elisa Severino as Most Valuable Senior Player, while Niranjana Subhash received the Deacon Trophy for her outstanding contribution and service to badminton.

On the rugby field, Brooke Lemalu was recognised as the 1st XV Most Valuable Senior Player and Best Senior Back, while Myrah Kereti received Best Senior Forward and Most Improved Senior Player.

In football, Daphney Vea was named 1st XI Most Valuable Player, while Elizabeth Tere received the 1st XI Team Player of the Year award.

In Kī o Rahi, Leilani Brown was recognised as Most Valuable Senior Player, while Elizabeth Tere received the Most Improved Senior Player award, celebrating their contributions and achievements in the sport.

Other significant sporting honours included Elise Hooper, our Senior Swimming Champion, Hockey Most Valuable Player and recipient of the Physical Education Trophy for Contribution to Sport; Blake Nohokau, Senior Athletics Champion; and Stevie-Lee Cargill, who was also named Waka Ama Most Valuable Senior.

Throughout both ceremonies, many more students were recognised for their sporting achievements, improvement, dedication and contribution to their teams.

We are incredibly proud of all our athletes, whether competing at an elite level, representing their school or contributing through teamwork, dedication and sportsmanship.

Thank you to our coaches, managers, staff, whānau and supporters who make these opportunities possible. Your commitment helps our wāhine grow in confidence, develop lifelong skills and achieve success both on and off the field.

Our Senior Prizegivings were also an opportunity to celebrate the incredible cultural and creative talents of our ākonga and the important contributions they make to the life and spirit of Hastings Girls’.

From kapa haka and cultural groups to music, dance, drama and visual arts, our wāhine continue to share their talents, celebrate their identities and enrich our school community.

A special congratulations to Johannes Iese, recipient of the Matau Trophy for Performing Artist of the Year. Johannes was recognised for her outstanding achievements in Music and Drama, alongside her involvement in Choir, Fiafia Night, the Showcase Concert and DanceNZmade where her Hip Hop crew placed second at regionals. Her dedication, talent and enthusiasm for the performing arts have been exceptional.

Our kapa haka and Te Ao Māori awards recognised students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, commitment and contribution:

Kaea Tangohau – Te Tuakana Whakapau Kaha i te ao Kapa Haka, recognising an outstanding senior performer.

Erica Monika-Matehaere Paul – Hine Rēhia, recognising the female leader of Te Rōpū Manu Huia.

Maieke Thompson – Te Waka Huia Award, Māori Student of the Year.

Hiria Tangaere – Taumata o Te Reo, Senior Māori Language Prize.

We also congratulate Danielle Mark, recipient of both the Travers Trophy for Pasifika Student of the Year and the Aigaeivaomalietoa – Le Tausala Samoa award, recognising her contribution, service and leadership within our Pasifika community.

Our performing arts awards celebrated many talented students, including Sharon Faalelea, recognised as Outstanding Vocalist; Nevaeh Haenga, recipient of the Grand Piano Award for Most Promising Musician; Maddee Marsh, named Most Outstanding Dancer; Pippa Yule, recognised for her contribution to performing arts and drama; and Elizabeth Turner, acknowledged for outstanding direction and leadership in theatre.

Across both ceremonies, we also celebrated the contributions of students to our Filipino, Fijian, Samoan, Tongan, Tuvaluan, Cook Islands and Sabhyachar cultural groups, alongside those recognised for their commitment to dance, music and kapa haka.

These achievements reflect the wonderful diversity of our school and the importance of providing opportunities for every ākonga to express herself, share her culture and develop her talents.

We thank our kaiako, tutors, whānau and community supporters who nurture these opportunities and help our wāhine celebrate who they are.

We are immensely proud of the creativity, cultural pride and spirit our students bring to Hastings Girls’.

As our Year 13 students prepare to take their next steps beyond Hastings Girls’ High School, we are delighted to celebrate those who have been recognised with scholarships to support their future studies.

At this week’s Senior Prizegiving, we acknowledged a number of outstanding students who have secured university, tertiary and community scholarships for 2027. These achievements reflect their academic dedication, determination and commitment to making the most of the opportunities available to them.

A special congratulations to our scholarship recipients:

University Scholarships

• Abby Ioane – University of Waikato Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship
• Mennat Quazi – University of Otago Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship and University of Waikato Te Paewai o te Rangi Scholarship
• Maieke Thompson – University of Auckland Māori Academic Excellence Scholarship, Victoria University Kahurangi Māori Student Scholarship, and University of Otago Māori Entrance Scholarship
• Grace Warren – University of Auckland 140th Kupenga Rau Māori and Pacific Scholarship

Tertiary and Community Scholarships

• Danielle Mark – EIT School Leaver Scholarship to study a Bachelor of Social Work
• Juliet Hokianga – Fuji Film Award for Tertiary Study
• Jessica Sunder – Alterno Foundation Scholarship

We were particularly pleased to present the Alterno Foundation Scholarship for the first time this year. Established as an annual award, this scholarship supports a Hastings Girls’ student pursuing further study who demonstrates determination, strong character and a commitment to making a positive contribution to her community. Congratulations to inaugural recipient Jessica Sunder.

It was also wonderful to welcome former student Alesha Hope, Chief Executive Officer of the Hawke’s Bay Foundation, back to Hastings Girls’ as our guest speaker and scholarship presenter. Alesha shared her journey from Hastings Girls’ to a successful career in corporate finance and community philanthropy, providing inspiration for our next generation of young wāhine.

These scholarships represent exciting opportunities for our students as they pursue their ambitions beyond school. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and grateful to the universities, organisations, donors and community supporters who invest in the futures of our young wāhine.

Congratulations to all our scholarship recipients. We look forward to seeing where your journeys take you!

House spirit, teamwork and friendly competition have been a wonderful part of life at Hastings Girls’ throughout 2026, with our four Houses coming together to participate in a wide range of sporting, cultural and school activities.

At Thursday evening’s Senior Prizegiving, we were delighted to announce Gold House as the winners of both major House Cups for 2026!

Hammond Cup – Awarded to the House achieving the highest points across all sporting activities throughout the year.

McIntyre Rose Bowl – Awarded to the House achieving the highest overall points across all school activities in 2026.

A huge congratulations to Gold House Captain, Eternity Peni, and all Gold House students for their enthusiasm, participation and commitment throughout the year.

These awards recognise more than just winning. They celebrate the importance of getting involved, supporting one another, stepping outside comfort zones and contributing to the wider life of our school.

We also acknowledge our House Captains Dani, Fili and Paige, and all students across Blue, Green, Gold and Purple Houses for the energy, leadership and school spirit they have brought to 2026.

Congratulations, Gold House – what a fantastic double victory and a wonderful way to finish the year!

We’re excited to introduce three more of our 2027 Student Leaders, who are passionate about celebrating creativity, culture and bringing our school community together!

Co-Cultural Captain – Jo Opoc
Jo brings enthusiasm, initiative and a passion for getting things done! With experience in cultural activities, performances and school events, she believes great leadership is about listening, encouraging others and making sure everyone feels included and proud to belong.

Co-Cultural Captain – Hazel-Maree Naoia
Hazel-Maree is a caring, approachable leader who loves supporting and encouraging others. Through her mentoring experience, she has developed a passion for helping students feel confident, connected and valued. She believes leadership is about growing together and making sure everyone has a voice.

Performing Arts Captain – Elizabeth Turner
Elizabeth has a genuine love for our kura, which she describes as a second home. She is passionate about giving back, inspiring others and creating positive change. Leading with kindness, confidence and creativity, she hopes to encourage more students to get involved and discover their own talents.

Congratulations Jo, Hazel-Maree and Elizabeth! We can’t wait to see the creativity, cultural pride and exciting opportunities you’ll bring to our kura in 2027!

Last Wednesday, we celebrated our students at the EIT Trades Academy End of Year Prizegiving.

The EIT Trades Academy offers our students fun, practical and engaging vocational courses designed to help them achieve NCEA Level 2 or Level 3, prepare for higher-level study and develop valuable real- world skills.

It was exciting to see our students develop and grow in their chosen courses, which included Automotive, Services Preparation, Hauora, Electrical, Integrated Trade Skills, Bakery, Hospitality, Sports, Coaching & Exercise, Agriculture and Hair & Beauty.

Each student should be incredibly proud of their efforts this year, we received nothing but glowing feedback from the team at EIT!

The following students received Top Trades awards.

A special congratulations to:

• Leilani Brown – Services Preparation L3
• Jen Galacan – Hauora L3
• Paige Whareaitu – Sport, Coaching & Exercise L2

Well done to all our Trades Students for 2026! We are so proud of what you have achieved this year.

A huge congratulations to Year 12 student Nicresa Mohi-Te Whero, who has been selected to take part in the SheENG at Waikato programme in January 2027.

Nicresa will travel to the University of Waikato in Hamilton for a four-day, fully funded residential experience from 19–22 January, staying in the university’s Halls of Residence.

Designed to inspire young women to explore careers in engineering, the programme offers a fantastic opportunity to experience university life while discovering the exciting possibilities within this field.

Throughout the four days, Nicresa will participate in hands-on workshops in university laboratories, connect with current engineering students and graduates, hear from industry professionals and meet other young women who share an interest in engineering and technology.

This is a wonderful opportunity for Nicresa to explore potential career pathways, build her confidence and gain valuable insight into what studying engineering at university could look like.

We are incredibly proud of Nicresa for taking this next step in exploring her future. Opportunities like SheENG are a fantastic way for our students to discover new possibilities and see where their interests and talents might take them.

Recently, we celebrated Year 10 student Sophia O’Kane. A special congratulations to Sophia, who received our school’s Top Student Volunteer Army Award, recognising her achievement of completing the highest number of volunteer hours at HGHS this year.

Sophia has shown incredible dedication and generosity by giving her time across a huge variety of initiatives throughout the year. Her efforts include volunteering for Daffodil Day and the Colour Run in support of the Cancer Society, marshalling at the Mahora and Frimley Primary School cross-country events and helping within school through weekly Thursday tutoring, serving on the Academic Committee, acting as a Junior Leader, coaching a junior football team for a full season, assisting with robotics and the school House Concert, and supporting our enrolment events (Open Day for Heretaunga, Open Evening, and Year 8 Day). She has also spent countless hours helping behind the scenes at school events – setting up chairs, organising activities, welcoming visitors, and cleaning up afterwards.

Her outstanding efforts reflect the true spirit of manaakitanga and demonstrate the incredible impact our students make when giving back to others. Ka rawe, Sophia!

My name is Khushi Bijalwan and I am a Year 12 student at Hastings Girls’ High School. I was incredibly fortunate to be selected as one of just 12 SADD (Students Against Dangerous Driving) National Leaders from across New Zealand for 2027.

During the Term 3 holidays, I travelled to Christchurch for a three day, fully funded National Leadership Hui organised by SADD. The experience brought together 12 young people from across the country who share a common goal, making our roads safer and empowering young people to be part of that change.

Throughout the hui, we participated in leadership workshops, team-building activities, a scavenger hunt and laser tag. We explored different leadership styles, developed our communication and collaboration skills, and discussed how we could use our voices to influence positive change. We also shared ideas for our individual projects, created road safety content and explored ways to make road safety conversations more engaging and accessible to young people.

One of my biggest takeaways was recognising that young people are not just the future of change, we can be the ones creating it right now. We have the ability to influence our peers, challenge unsafe attitudes, start important conversations and encourage people to make safer decisions. I gained a greater understanding of how to lead with purpose, turn ideas into action, work collaboratively and use my voice to advocate for something that affects every community.

Beyond the workshops, meeting the other 11 National Leaders was one of the highlights. Everyone brought different perspectives, experiences and ideas, and the friendships and connections we built made the experience even more special.

I am incredibly grateful to SADD for providing us with this opportunity and to Hastings Girls’ High School, for supporting my application. Our school continues to encourage us to step outside our comfort zones, take on meaningful opportunities and grow into the young women we aspire to be.

I am excited to bring the skills, knowledge and ideas I gained back to my school and wider community. Being a SADD National Leader is more than a title, it is an opportunity to turn our voices into action and contribute to a future where everyone can get home safely.

A huge shoutout to our Year 10 Junior Leaders who volunteered at the Frimley Primary school Athletics day! We received glowing feedback from the host Principal Mr Pearse, who commended our girls for their incredible enthusiasm and genuine encouragement of the tamariki, calling their effort “the best I have seen.”

Thank you to our students for bringing so much positive energy and representing our school so brilliantly, awesome mahi, girls!

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