The Te Puna o Wairaka Dinner on October 30 was a time for MAGS’ ākonga, whānau and kaiako to celebrate a busy and successful for Puna.
Our Puna Year 13 Leavers were also recognised and farewelled with speeches and haka.
There was also a formal hand-over of the kaitātaki wahine (female leader) and kaitātaki tāne (male leader) for the Kapa Haka group in 2026. The sounds of waiata and haka rang out as this year’s leaders Awanui Hope and Kingston Ballantyne handed over the ‘mauri’ in the form of a patu and taiaha to the two new leaders: Brooklyn Smith-Boyd and Bailey Nagel.
Guest speaker was Albertian Taylah Johnson (209-13), who is probably best known as a Sky Sport rugby commentator. But as she told the Puna audience, she has spread her net far and wide during her career – starting off in accounting before becoming a broadcaster, management consultant, business development manager and board member for various organisations including World Rugby.
Taylah, who has played in the Farah Palmer Cup and has represented Samoa in rugby, said she was not among the top students while at MAGS but has used her networking skills and determination to forge a rewarding career.
Taylah, who has Māori, European, Samoan, Tongan and Cook Island background, told Puna students that their culture was their “superpower”, one they should celebrate and use to their advantage.
The awards dinner at Te Mahurehure Marae was MC’ed by Puna students Bailey Nagel and Brooke Lisipeki.
Jarom Rowell and Alyssa Tamihere gave the Leavers’ Address on behalf of Year 13s, speaking about their gratitude to the Puna whānau and to Whaea Waimirirangi Paul and Matua Peter Walters for their firm guidance and belief.
When it came to the awards, Kingston Ballantyne won the Top Senior Academic, while Sasha Tobin was named All-Round Top Senior Student.
Jarom Rowell won the “Manu Tute” Award For Services to Puna and the wider community, while Te Awanuiarangi Mackwood won the equivalent Junior award.
Awanui Hope won the “He toka tū” Award For Contribution to Kapa Haka.
Ella Kerrigan was All-Round Top Junior Girl and Penelope Tozer was Top Junior Academic; the All-Round Top Junior Boy was Te Awanuiarangi Mackwood.
The award for Top Senior Māori Language Orator went to Awanui Hope, and Omaio August-Sutherland was named Top Junior Māori Language Orator.
When it came to sports achievement, Quaver Ne’emia won the top junior award, and Marnie Toloa the top senior award.
The Toi Whakaari Award for Contribution to the Arts Pillar was won by Mahara Sialafau. The junior and senior Ngākau Titikaha awards for Upholding Tikanga and Reo Māori within Te Puna o Wairaka and the wider community were won by Omaio August-Sutherland and kingston Ballantyne respectively.
