Kōtuitui Writing Challenge

A large number of our children entered writing for the Kōtuitui Writers' Challenge 2024. The theme was: Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua - the whenua (land) has existed long before us and will continue to exist far beyond each of our individual lives.

The theme provoked some reflective and thoughtful written expression around what tūrangawaewae means for us as a community with a particular focus on our connection to the whenua and how we nurture it. 

The judging panel was made up of representatives from across our school contexts and they were blown away with the quality of writing from our Kaurilands entries.  The judges were impressed by the references to the beautiful natural setting of our local area, as well as mature and insightful articulation of a sense of belonging to this area/whenua and to spaces where we feel this connection. 

A big congratulations to the following children who placed in this competition:

1st Place: Rachel (Rm 9a)

2nd Place: Zoya (Rm 9a)

Highly commended: Lily (Rm 21)

Highly commended: Madison (Rm 21)