Kia ora koutou katoa

I would like to start by acknowledging all the recipients of awards and certificates at our award ceremony last Thursday evening. It’s always such a lovely occasion to be able to celebrate the successes of our students. They have done the Mahi and deserve their time in the limelight. A special congratulations to Abbi Murdoch, who was awarded the top academic prize of Dux, and Talen Hignett, who claimed the title of Proxime Accessit. Both students have worked incredibly hard to be awarded the top two academic prizes for 2022. Congratulations!

Hayley Mitchell, who filled Ms Thompson’s maternity leave position this year, is leaving us to begin a position at Kaiapoi High School in 2023. Thank you for your commitment to Mackenzie College. Our students have benefitted from your passion for art and photography. Kaiapoi is very lucky to have appointed you. We wish you all the best.

I would like to thank our incredible teachers, support staff and administration. We are incredibly blessed with the team we have at Mackenzie College. They go the extra mile, support our students and make them believe in what they are capable of. Our students thrive at Mackenzie College because of the undeniable fact that our team that surrounds them cares.

When I left Mackenzie College in term one, I knew the school would be in good hands. The Year 13’s were primed with the responsibility to progress this school forward. They certainly have not disappointed. Thank you to our Year 13s for your outstanding leadership of Mackenzie College. To our head students for 2022, Amy Hay, Isaac Ryall, Ollie Nelson and Sophie Kerr. Well played, job done, and thank you for your contribution to the spirit of Mackenzie College.

This year the school, with a significant financial contribution of our PTA, have decided to gift our year 13 leavers a taonga. The taonga is a pounamu carved, polished and blessed by South Canterbury man Phil Edwards. This is our thank you for the Year 13s contribution to the spirit of Mackenzie College. Each piece of Pounamu was hand selected by Mrs Parke and I. They are all in the shape of a Toki, which symbolizes perseverance, dedication, bravery, and success, and honours the link between the past and the present.

Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua. I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past. This whakataukī speaks to the perspective of time, where the past, the present and the future are viewed as intertwined. Year 13s of 2022 - Carry your past into the future. Carry the lessons, memories, connections and Aroha from Mackenzie College with you, carry the spirit of us with you. Your taonga holds our spirit; wear it when you need it, and know we will continue to walk beside you into your future.

Lastly, I congratulate the four students appointed to head students in 2023. Brisea Lagos and Hamish Ryall are head students and Kaia McKenzie, and Luke Jordan are deputy head students. We know you will be an outstanding group of young leaders, and we look forward to you leading our school next year.

Thank you to our school community for your ongoing, loyal support. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year.

Ngā mihi o te wā me te Tau Hou

Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year to you all

Sam Nelson

Principal / Tumuaki

2023 HEAD STUDENT TEAM