On Thursday 23rd June Mrs Fiona Bell and myself (Ms Bryony Wood) took all Year 9s to Parliament and He Tohu.

This is a significant aspect of our Year 9 Social Studies programme as it connects our ākonga to important aspects of community participation in decision making in Aotearoa, as well as seeing our significant founding documents of He Whakaputanga, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the Suffrage petition. What was even more exciting this year is that we happened to have organised the trip on the same day as the Official Opening of Parliament Grounds since the mandate protests earlier this year. 

Our ākonga were able to join in with their peers from schools around Thorndon in witnessing this significant event for Aoteaora; we heard mana whenua bless the grounds, Speaker Trevor Mallard speak of his perspective, and Jacinda Ardern share her view and feelings of the event (some students even got a selfie with her!). We were then all treated to Mr Whippy, free fizzy drinks, and a sausage sizzle provided by politicians such as Marama Davidson and Chloe Swarbrick. It was a really exciting and beneficial day for us all (kaiako included!) to be able to witness and partake in.