A few words before we go...

As this is our last year before we take our next big adult steps into the world here are a few words to everyone that we say and give with love and honesty.

"The last three years have been amazing, I've stood on a national stage and international stages, and of course home stage and I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunities to do all of it, I'm glad to be apart of the first official Graduates at Te Pā o Rākaihautū"-Te Rauhina

"I can't believe we're this close to graduation! There are so many opportunities to be thankful for, so many people I wish  I could say thank you to,  and too many words  I wish I could say, but if I had to find a single word to describes the last three years it'd be "Incredible" "-Oraka

"Years surrounded by whānau is exactly what I needed to become who I am right now, and exactly what I know I'll never lose thanks to Te Pā, like the others I just wanna say thank you!  -Hineamaru

"I have so much I wanna say about everything that's happened and everyone I've met, but instead I'll just say Thank you for Te Waka Uruao and Te Pā for welcoming me in and letting me be apart of this big whānau, it means the world to me"-Italy

"These last three years have shown me great things. How to finish off 3 assessments in a week? Easy. Well not so easy, with great support and love thrown at us by our teachers everyday we got it done. It's really unbelievable that we are the first graduates, we have been so privileged with the things Te Pā has gave us the opportunity to do. They have turned us into young leaders, confident to take our place in the world. I don't think I'm ready to leave our big family at Te Pā. Te Pā has such a big part of my heart, and I cant wait to visit for free lunch when I'm a poor student"

-Maria Moeke 

"The end of high school is so close! It is an honour to be one the first graduates here. I would like to thank you all for the opportunities we have been able to experience these past 4 years from circuits on the court, to tramping on mountains, to flying in the air. I don’t think I would have liked to have experienced it any other way. You have helped carve us into the people we are today"-Iwitea

"I can't believe it's this close to graduation, there so much I'm thankful for, all the amazing opportunities, people, experiences and things I've seen, it's honestly overwhelming, I just want to say it's been an honour and thank you to everyone who has helped me and all of Te Waka Uruao during the last few years and I just want them to know we're entering the next stage with confidence" -Te Wharetutu

We know that even when we graduate Te Waka Uruao and Te Pā o Rākaihautū will always be a part of who we are and a place we call home and for that we are grateful.

Ngā Mihi, 

Te Waka Uruao, year 13 graduates of 2018!