Nau mai aku nui, nau mai aku iti e.

Whakatau mai ra, haere mai ra

ki Rautawhiri.. ki aku nui

Tena ra tatou katoa kua huihui mai nei i raro i nga ahuatanga o te wa.

Ko Alyssa Webster toku ingoa .. he uri ahau no Te Arawa, Ngai Tuhoe, Ngapuhi, Te Whanau-A-Apanui me Ngati Porou hoki.

Ki a koutou e ngā akonga hou, e ngā kura māhita hou hōki, nau mai, haere mai, whakarauika mai ki runga i to tātou whenua o Ngāti Whakaue, ki roto i to tātou kura o Te Kura o Rautawhiri!

Mōrena everyone. My name is Alyssa Webster. i am a proud manifestation of my heritage connected to Te Arawa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau-A-Apanui and Ngāti Porou.

To our new students, to our new teachers, welcome to our land of Ngāti Whakaue and to this our school of Te Kura o Rautawhiri.

If there is one thing that has resonated with me during my years of high school, it is that there are moments when you feel like you’re on an emotional roller coaster. There are many ups, downs, bends, turns, spirals and a lot more, yet there are always ways to get over these obstacles and to push through the discomfort of some new experiences while enjoying the thrill of others.

My kura, your kura, our kura has an amazing support system made up of our wonderful staff, teachers, councillors and sisters. Never be afraid to ask or to be that voice that breaks the silence when things are tough or weighing you down. Be that voice of encouragement shouting from the bleachers or that body that stands beside a sister in need.

Education is a lifelong journey and now we walk this path together as sisters of Rautawhiri in our pursuit of excellence.

Kia haumaru, kia ora, kia ngawari.

Be safe, be healthy, and be kind.

Tena tatou katoa.