The staffroom was full as our Waimairi-iri whānau came together to recognise the achievement of our Māori students and to farewell our Year 13 leavers and departing staff.

Head Māori Leader, Anika Cattanach welcome stated "2020 served as a year of learning (both online and at school) for the Māori community here at Waimairi-iri. Throughout the year we as a collective group have been involved in creating the mural for the whare, a very successful Māori language week, a whānau Hui to celebrate Matariki and an amazing Kapa Haka performance at Tuhono with our two new Kapa Haka Tutors . My Highlights for the year include ARP (Aotearoa Rockstars Project), and the Junior mentoring programme."

This year an increased number of students were recognised for academic achievement and effort, performance in sport, performance in culture, leadership and tikanga.

Zak McKellar received the Te Taonga Roopu-Reipa Māori prize for service to Tikanga. Aroha Paahi Goodman received the Mauri Ora award for making significant growth academically and in Kapa Haka.

Mr White, Mr Kahukura-Denton and Mrs Preseton were farewell with our Year 13 Leavers. We wish them all the best.

The following students were named as the 2021 Māori leaders:

Ella Griffiths, Mahina Kanavatoa, Aroha Goodman, Tamsin Milnes-Win, Mikaela Prasad, Kahu Norman, Manuhaea Mamaru-O'Regan with Rerekiao Perenara-O'Connell named as Head Leader.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of the night.