Many outstanding achievements across MAGS’ Four Pillars were celebrated at the Te Puna o Wairaka Dinner on November 5 as MAGS’ ākonga, whānau and kaiako came together at Te Mahurehure Marae.
Our Puna Year 13 Leavers were also recognised and farewelled with speeches and haka. Our Leavers also performed the waiata Āio, and were accompanied by Matua Peter Walters who composed the piece.
Guest speaker for the event, which was MC’ed by Katie Watkinson and Kamaukiterangi Mikaere, was Albertian Assina Te Paa-Kolio (2015-19), who explained she had kept returning to her Year 10 speech at MAGS: ‘Don’t be Afraid to do Something Different’ as she progressed through Puna, MAGS and her academic life since.
Assina (Ngāti Whatua ki Kaipara and Samoa), pictured left, said she was proud of her Māori and Samoan roots and that pride had developed as she progressed at MAGS, becoming a Prefect and Kaitataki Wahine with the Kapa Haka.
She has since gone on to a Bachelor of Health Sciences and is pursuing her Masters at University of Auckland. She has begun researching equitable health outcomes for Māori and Pasikifa, as well as mentoring and encouraging rangatahi to pursue Health Sciences.
There was also a formal hand-over of the kaitātaki wahine (female leader) and kaitātaki tāne (male leader) for the Kapa Haka group in 2027. This year’s leaders Brooklyn Smith-Boyd and Bailey Nagel handed over the ‘mauri’ in the form of a patu and taiaha to the two new leaders: Katie Watkinson and Te Awanauiarangi Mackwood, pictured left.
Bailey Hamilton and Brooke Lisipeki gave the Leavers’ Address on behalf of Year 13s, speaking about their gratitude for support they had received at MAGS from their teachers to Senior Leadership and the Board of Trustees. The pair said they enjoyed incredible growth and self-belief through their time at Puna.
When it came to the awards, Tehya McDade won the Top Senior Academic, while Tehya and Brooke Lisipeki were named All-Round Top Senior Students.
Brooke Lisipeki won the Senior “Manu Tute” Award For Services to Puna and the wider community, while Quest de Silva won the equivalent Junior award.
Bailey Nagel and Brooklyn Smith-Boyd won the “He toka tū” Award For Contribution to Kapa Haka.
Rosa Swann was All-Round Top Junior Girl and Zara Richardson was Top Junior Academic; the All-Round Top Junior Boy was Trey Ballantyne.
The award for Top Senior Māori Language Orator went to Iritekura Mato, and Talanoa Fraser was named Top Junior Māori Language Orator.
When it came to sports achievement, Quaver Ne’emia won the top junior award, and Tawhai Kaipo 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 Bob Smiler and Bailey Hamilton respectively.
There were two new awards this year, with Brooke Lisipeki winning the Purapura Tuawhiti Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service, and Bailey Hamilton winning the Hamilton Te Ao Māori Advocacy Award for (a student who demonstrates) Strong Advocacy for Te Ao Māori Within the School and Wider Community.
