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Head Prefect Speech 2021
Te korero timatatanga o te tau hou, ki te Kura
Ko Te Arawa te Waka
Ko Te Arawa te Iwi
Ko Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao te hapu
Ko Tūturu te maunga
Ko Puarenga te awa
Ko Te Pākira te marae
Ko Wāhiao te Whare Tupuna
Ko Reagan Nicholson tōku ingoa
Tihei mauriora!
Kei ngā mana, kei ngā reo,
ko ngā Pou-Ako,
Koutou! ko ngā̄ Tauira, kua whakaeke nei,
tēna koutou, tēna koutou, tēna koutou katoa
Nau mai, haere mai, hoki mai ki to Kura
Tēna koutou i te ahuatanga o ngā mate o te tau ka pāhemo, ka tai ki te rangi nei,
haere koutou, haere koutou, haere, oki, oki ki te atua.
Ka huri ano kia koutou ngā kanohi ora, e hui tahi nei i tenei wa,
ngā mihi o te tau hou kia koutou katoa.
Ka huri au ki te reo paraoa ka whakaae koutou ki ngā korero e whai ake nei
Firstly, I would like to start off by welcoming members of the board, thank you for taking the time to be with us today.
Mr Grinter, Nga Mihi sir.
A leader is someone who knows the way and shows the way. You lead our school with pride and passion in all that the school strives to achieve. I look forward to working with you throughout the year to lead our school.
Our awesome staff, welcome back I hope you all have a massive year.
The new entrants from years 9 through to 13 that are joining us at Raukura this year. Welcome.
To all the Brothers returning to school Welcome back and go hard.
To the Prefect team,
this year is our year to show everyone what we have. I’m excited to be working with my fellow brothers to guide and lead the school as we strive for greatness.
I would also like to thank everyone who has helped me throughout my years at school. If not for you I would not be in the position that I am in today.
To my good friend Todd and also my Deputy, It is privilege to have you by my side this year, I’m looking forward to the challenges we will face in the oncoming year and we will with no doubt face them together.
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For those of you who don’t know me
“My name is Reagan Nicholson”, Head Prefect for 2021.
In my early years I was raised here in the bubbly city of Rotorua, I moved to Australia when I was 6 and I returned to Rotorua Boys High in year nine.
The reason I moved back to Rotorua was not only to be closer to family, but to immerse myself in my culture. By coming to Rotorua Boys’ High School I knew I was in the best place to be able to achieve the academic and cultural goals I had.
Coming here as a young year nine was scary, I was away from home and had only a few mates. But as the years went by, I was able to become closer with my Raukura brothers and have formed unbreakable bonds with them all.
For you year nines who are coming to Raukura, it’s a big change coming from intermediate to high school. But if you have your whanau and brothers beside you, high school will be no sweat. But as we year 13’s know, those 5 years go by fast, so make the most of it while you can.
I’ve thought of what I could share that might help others throughout their time at Rotorua Boys’ High School.
I came up with 5 things.
CHANGE, FEAR, CHALLENGES, SUPPORT, and SUCCESS
CHANGE
At last year’s senior prize giving, Mr Grinter with the support of our Board, heralded a new beginning, by announcing a change to the names of the houses at our school. These newly named houses carry the names that will connect us all to this school, to this place and to this community, they are our unique identifiers which when together make us one as Raukura.
If you do not know already our new house names are:
Ngongotaha (Red)
Utuhina (Green)
Te Rotoruanui-a-Kahu (Blue) and
Te Akitu a Raukura (Yellow)
Here at Raukura change will seem a constant companion, it’s what sets us apart, and what makes us more adaptable and ready for the unexpected.
For many the transition into a bigger school campus and adapting to a new structure is all part of that. The biggest change for me was, moving from Aussie and having to adapt to a new environment.
Here at Raukura we embrace change, and we face it together.
FEAR
It is real, and it affects all of us in different ways, particularly when one feels alone, at Raukura you are not alone. You will have your brothers beside you. If you are coming from afar to join our Hostel you will become a part of a brotherhood that will help you grow and face fears together.
I was anxious and scared. I wondered if I was going to be accepted, if I was going to be good enough, if I was going to succeed, I was afraid, that fear may be just as real for your whanau too but just know you are joining an extended whanau that is Raukura. You are not alone here.
CHALLENGES
There will be many. Challenges are a part of life while we are learning to find our way, finding what sets the fire inside us.
Be it academically if you have a goal...chase that goal alongside your mates, if it’s a sporting goal you have the best right here to help set you up for life, be it a trade or an alternate dream you strive for, it’s the challenges before during and after that build the foundation of who you are and who you will become. Here at Raukura we will face those together.
SUPPORT
Along with the stellar teaching and support staff here at Raukura, Support is something you can expect from me, I am not only your head prefect but a fellow student and Raukura brother. The prefects and I, we are here to represent you, we are here to help and encourage you to be the best version of yourselves. We will support you together.
SUCCESS
With success must come hard work. Some people are naturally gifted, and some must try a bit harder but that’s okay, success whatever it may be for you comes with sacrifice and determination, like me it usually comes with the love and support of those who care for you. No matter how big or small we will celebrate success together.
It is my hope that during my last year as a student here I can give back, that I can help and support the students and the school that has given me so much.
In conclusion, I would like to leave you with these words from one of our school waiata that expresses what I hope for all of us ... past students ... current students and those of you who are new to the Raukura Whanau.
Ko ngā rau a te huia hai whakarākai mōu e hoka e,
Whāia te iti kahurangi raukura e!
Let the feathers of the huia bird adorn you, and be a treasure for you, Fly and soar.
Follow your dreams and aspirations all who are Raukura.
Kaati ake mo tenei wa tēna koutou katoa, e huri!
Reagan Nicholson
Head Prefect 2021
