On Wednesday, 22 November, we held our National Senior School Prize Giving. Supported by whānau and friends, our students in Years 9 – 15 celebrated excellence across the Enrolled School.

The evening began by acknowledging Provision successes in academic excellence, New Zealand Sign Language improvement, attitude to learning, participation, and contribution to the wider school.

Our National Awards followed this. The winners of these awards are:

Ko Taku Reo Māori Excellence Award

• Year 9-11 Starr Phillips
• Year 12-15 Anahera Strongman

Ko Taku Reo Leadership Award

• Year 9-11 Riley Pollard
  
• Year 12-15 Noelani Ritchie
  

Ko Taku Reo Towards Independence Award

• Year 12-15 Liberty Francis
  

Ko Taku Reo Excellence in NZSL

• Asinate Vucago
  

Outstanding Academic Success across the Curriculum

• Year 9-10 Frank Irakiza
  
• Year 11-13 Fiero Estanislao
  

Outstanding Contribution to Sports

• Frank Irakiza
  

Excellence in Culture and Arts

• Giordyn Wheki
  

Tuakana Teina Residential Award

• Auckland Levi Heki
  
• Christchurch Asinate Vucago
  

This year saw the introduction of two new awards

The first new award was the Vicki Sharman Award. This award was donated to Ko Taku Reo in memory of our dear friend and colleague, Vicki, who sadly lost her battle with cancer last year. Her family donated this award, Ko Toi te uri o Mahara Pōhewa; Art is the child of imagination. The award celebrates and acknowledges Vicki's passion for The Arts. The first recipient of this award was Liberty Francis. 

The second award was the Pruden Deaf Awareness Award. This award was in honour of Cyril and Norah Purden. Both were deaf and attended the first Deaf School in New Zealand, van Asch School for the Deaf in Sumner. The award is an old-style wooden school desk, in keeping with the style when they were in school. Their daughter, Kay Drew, gifted the desk to the school in their memory and was presented to a student to participate in Deaf Studies, represents Deafhood and is proud of their Deaf Identity. This was awarded to Noelani Richards. 

At the end of the evening, we acknowledged those students leaving Ko Taku Reo and embarking on their next journey. Some are heading off to university to study, and some have found jobs in the workplace. We send them off with our best wishes and a welcome back anytime.