week, the entire school took part in the Maˉori language moment; teachers began lessons with Te Reo or the boys began with a karakia. This was a nationwide movement involving more than 1 million Kiwis in an attempt to break the world record for the most people speaking and celebrating an endangered, indigenous language at the same time. Later in the week we held a House Ki-O-Rahi competition (a traditional Maˉori game) as well as a sausage sizzle, with free snags – provided the boys could recite their mihi. With over 200 sausages sizzled and collected, the barbeque was a roaring success. Finally, the committee led an assembly in Te Reo Maˉori. We outlined the signi cance of the week and its activities, and gave the whole school a Maˉori lesson in basic greetings and pronunciation, further reinforced by posters placed all around the school. Unfortunately, due to Covid, our plans for a new House haka competition were unable to go ahead, but the week was extraordinary nonetheless and had a signi cant impact on our goal of normalising Te Reo being spoken around the school. Beyond kapa haka success, supporting Maˉori and Pasi ka students, and organising Te Wiki o te Reo Maˉori, the committee aimed to in uence the school to embrace our nation’s Maˉori heritage as well as our school’s strong English traditions, and to address unconscious bias and prejudice. Although daunting at times, this has meant taking a stand for what we believe is right. Throughout the year, we have ‘called out’ the school for the lack of knowledge of our Maˉori motto: “Tiakina tika, ngaˉ tikanga tika,” alongside the English “Good traditions (must be) well maintained,” and the Latin, “Bene tradita, bene servanda,” and then widened its use and prevalence through exposure in the Houses. As Te Kaitiaki o te Taha Maˉori, I have addressed the school in assembly and stressed the importance of all of us making an effort to speak a bit of Maˉori; educating the boys on Aotearoa’s history and delving deep
into why we must make an effort to normalise its use around the school. To add to the growing list of ‘ rsts’ for College this year, I had the privilege of being the rst Kaitiaki o te Taha Maˉori o Te Kura o te Karaiti – the rst Head of Biculturalism. Throughout the year I have consistently returned to one of my favourite whakatauki in order to emphasise our strength when we band together and lift each other up to achieve our goals: “Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.” “My valour is not that of an individual, but that of a multitude.” One of the brilliant things about whakatauki, is that they can be interpreted differently and their meaning is signi cant in more ways than one. Another translation is “Success is not the work of one, but the work of many.” When I look back on the year and the progress that has been made, it is clear that it is a result of the work of many. I want to thank the staff and management for their efforts in embracing biculturalism at College, as well those whose classroom environments and addresses to the school are increasingly involving Te Reo. Thank you to the boys in the bicultural committee who have been adaptable and daring in forging a path with no predecessors to follow. Most signi cantly, I would like to mihi to Dr Mike Field, who as the bicultural coordinator, has sown the seeds for all the progress we have achieved. In terms of biculturalism, the Christ’s College I walk out of is a far better place than it was when I walked in five years ago, and that can largely be attributed to his mahi and courage. We certainly missed his energetic presence during his absence this year, but his aroha and support were always felt. This year was only the beginning of the journey of the Biculturalism Committee, and looking to the future, there is still much progress to be made. I am excited that College will be welcoming a new kaiako Maˉori, Keri Campbell, for 2022 and I look forward to watching the
committee grow, and College better embrace our bicultural heritage and identity. I wish Charlie Eglinton of Ngaˉpuhi the best of luck in the role of Te Kaitiaki o te Taha Maˉori next year. He is a man of integrity, honesty and exceptional character and I have no doubt he will lead the committee to great heights. Ngaˉ mihi raˉ moˉ ngaˉ raˉ kei mua i te aroaro Bradley Hika Shearer, Ngaˉpuhi Head of Biculturalism
CHARACTER & LEADERSHIP
2021 was an interesting year for the Character and Leadership committee, to say the least. With many changes to staffing and the effects of Covid-19 lockdowns, the key for the committee was finding momentum in a year full of obstacles. The year began with the addition of Matt Cortesi as the Director of Character & Leadership, replacing Darrell Thatcher as the person with oversight of student leadership. With this change came a new passion for the committee and many new ideas. Three Year 13 students, including myself, remained in the committee and it was great to have new Year 12 students making up the remaining members. One of the committee’s main initiatives was a take on something by last year’s committee. This initiative dubbed ‘Man of the Fortnight’ saw one boy from every House being selected by their Head of House for showing exemplary character. The committee would then choose who they thought was most deserving from the group of 10 and award them a prize at assembly. A great example of this was Oli Aikawa, who was selected for showing exemplary leadership and commitment to his Corfe House song. A highlight of the year was the Year 12 Emerging Leaders Conference which took place in Week 10 of Term 2. This saw a plethora of schools from around Canterbury come and take part in a day of
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Christ’s College Canterbury
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