The staff and students of UHC were devastated to learn of the death of a much-loved former teacher – Rachel Pawsey – who was killed in a motorcycle accident in Upper Hutt on Thursday 27 August.

Rachel taught at UHC from mid-2016 to the end of 2019. She joined us from Whangaparaoa College and quickly established herself with her classes of Physical Education, Health and Outdoor Education (Adventure). She was an excellent teacher, great in the classroom, unfailingly positive, and a role model for her classes. Rachel was adventurous and loved sharing her experience of the outdoors with her students. Many will have special memories of Rachel encouraging them to give things a go and push through their fears and uncertainties as they went tramping, camping, abseiling, high roping or kayaking. Rachel was also involved in netball, was the Te Kanawa House Leader in 2019 and shared her love of horses with students on Junior Activity Day.

Rachel left UHC at the end of 2019 to go overseas, and was in Vietnam when COVID-19 halted her travel plans (she was making her way to a teaching position in Italy) and she returned home to stay with her family in Auckland for lockdown. She then made her way back to Upper Hutt and was looking to return to teaching in the Wellington area.

Rachel was kind, positive, energetic and always smiling, a much-loved and admired colleague and friend. She will be remembered as a teacher who inspired and fostered a love of the outdoors in her students and she will be missed by us all. Our deepest condolences, thoughts and aroha go to Rachel’s parents, family and all who knew and loved her.