“He aha te mea nui i te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata”. What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

The terror attack on Friday 15 March had a significant impact on our community. We, the Burnside High School whānau, extend our deepest sympathy to all who were directly affected by the tragic events of that day. Muhammad Haziq Mohd Tarmizi, a current student, was killed. A conscientious and self-motivated student, Haziq (12SHGR) started at Burnside High School at the beginning of 2018 after coming from Malaysia. Haziq was well-respected by both his peers and teachers. His love of school was reflected in his outstanding attendance and happy demeanour. Always respectful and polite, Haziq was a team player who was always willing to contribute his ideas. He was developing as a leader particularly in Business Studies where he was the CEO of his business. Academically Haziq was on track to continue his success of last year when he achieved NCEA Level One, with an Excellence endorsement in Accounting and Merit in both Maths and Science.

We will miss him….

Three fathers of students were also wounded, and three further students had four close relatives killed. Many of you will have close connections to people who were involved. Our wishes and aroha go out to all.

Our staff have given wonderful support to students and families since the attack. The National Remembrance Service on Friday 29 March (which included the graphic shown at the top of this page) provided an opportunity for us all to acknowledge and reflect on the event, the collective response, and our hopes for the future. Our thanks to the Burnside High School community for your understanding and support with the decision to close the school for the day.

Friday 15 March 2019 changed our nation, and had the potential to divide us, or to bring us together. The days following that ‘darkest of New Zealand’s days’ have been a time for us to support people as simply and sincerely as possible. A time to be respectful of others, to have pride in our capacity to reach out to others, and to strive to excel in being the most caring and compassionate people we can be.

The values of Kindness, Compassion, Respect, and Unity have been so important. This is what our school, community, city, and nation needs in the current context. Now there is a determination to do better in this regard, and we must never lose that focus. We all have a responsibility to model the values of compassion, respect, and aroha for our fellow New Zealander. As a country, we are known for our Aroha and Manaakitanga. We expect these values of our students.

Already, our students have been inspirational with the actions they have taken; and with their willingness and courage to call each other out when they hear or see inappropriate or unacceptable words, comments or behaviours. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi: ‘Let us be the change we want to see in the world.’

At the National Remembrance Service, the Prime Minister, Jacinda Adern, said:

We will remember the tears of our nation, and the new resolve we have formed. And we remember, that ours is a home that does not and cannot claim perfection. But we can strive to be true to the words embedded in our national anthem:

Men of every creed and race,

Gather here before Thy face,

Asking Thee to bless this place

God defend our free land

From dissension, envy, hate

And corruption, guard our state

Make our country good and great

God Defend New Zealand

Ōna mano tāngata

Kiri whero, kiri mā,

Iwi Māori, Pākehā,

Rūpeke katoa,

Nei ka tono ko ngā hē

Māu e whakaahu kē,

Kia ora mārire

Aotearoa

Phil Holstein

Principal