Tēnā koutou katoa

This year the celebration of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori coincided with the Otago Schools Polyfest in which He Waka Kōtuia and the Pacific Royals both performed on opening night. This year’s Māori Language Week was particularly special as Wednesday 14 September marked the 50th anniversary of the Māori Language Petition, an event that led to many of the kaupapa we have today, including Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. The Māori Language Petition (Te Petihana) presentation to Parliament with over 30,000 signatures, kickstarted major shifts in the revival of te reo Māori as a living language in Aotearoa New Zealand. Since this moment 50 years ago, Te Petihana has, and continues, to inspire the Maōri language movement. The week is about encouraging us all to speak te reo, ahakoa te iti (no matter how little) me kōrero (we should speak it).

Patua te whakamā – don’t be afraid to give it a go.

Groups representing Queen’s and King’s, were once again impressive in the Otago Polyfest with a vibrant performance from the Pacific Royals and a polished presentation from He Waka Kōtuia.  Click here to see their performances, He Waka Kōtuia starts at 47:00 and the Royals at 2:35:00.  We are indebted to all of the tutors of these groups who give up much of their time to allow our girls to participate in these activities. I wish to make a special mention for the work that two of our Year 13 students, Leah Faitonu and Soana Pole, have done in both organising and tutoring the Royals.

The celebrations of students’ success for 2022 start with the Sport and Cultural Awards night on Wednesday 19 October and then Senior Academic Prizegiving on Tuesday 1 November. These events are being held in the Queen’s and King’s Performing Arts Centre. Junior Prizegiving will be in the Queen’s High School Hall, on the morning of Tuesday 6 December.

Barbara Agnew

Principal