Each year, I have the privilege of speaking to friends, whānau, staff and the Year 6 leavers at the Leavers Prizegiving evening.

Matua ma, koro mā, kuia mā, tamariki mā. Nau mai, hoki mai ki te kura nei. He mihi nunui ki a koutou. Mauri ora e te whare, tauatahi, kua tū ake au ki te tuku mihi maioha ki a koutou katoa, kua tatū mai i tēnei rā kia whakanui ai i ēnei o ngā tamariki miharo.

Parents, grandfathers, grandmothers, children. Welcome back to our school. A huge welcome to you all. Hello to all in the house, firstly, I stand proudly to give an esteemed greeting to you all that have arrived today to celebrate these amazing children.

12 August 1816 - New Zealand’s First School opened with 33 children. The new school stood beside missionary Thomas Kendall’s house in the small Church Missionary Society (Anglican) settlement at Hohi (Oihi) in the Bay of Islands which had been founded 18 months earlier.

9 December 1867 - First passengers go through the Lyttelton Train Tunnel. After 6½ years of construction, it took just 6½ minutes for the first trainload of passengers to speed through the 2.6- km tunnel linking the Canterbury plains to the port of Lyttelton.

10 February 1937 - Free Milk in schools - a world first. Each day, milk monitors supplied a half-pint (284 ml) of milk to each pupil. By 1940 the milk was available to over 80 per cent of schoolchildren. For a few years during the Second World War, pupils also received an apple a day.

12 August 1975 - John Walker is the first in the world to run a mile in under 3minute 50seconds.

These are just some of the famous New Zealand Firsts in History I have found out about.

I then thought about today and talking briefly to our Year 6 children who are now part of that history of New Zealand. They are having another of their firsts today – Being a Leaver in a Leavers Prizegiving and celebration here at Wairakei School.

I wonder if you can remember those very special firsts that you have had here at Wairakei School. Even those children who have attended other schools as well, I am sure that you will still be able to remember a first from here at Wairakei.

Just take a moment to remember … Can you remember your first day at school; your first reading book; your first piece of art on the wall? How about your first assembly; your first maths test; your first athletic sports?

You, with many of these firsts, have made outstanding breakthroughs yourselves. You have been able to achieve great things already. With the support of family and school you have been able to develop interests in cultural, academic and sporting fields.

I want to congratulate all you wonderful young people in achieving a great milestone in your life. That of completing your Year 1 – 6 primary school education. This is obviously a First that you will remember – your first graduation!

The work that you have put in to make it to this point has been quite incredible. These last few years have been a very important part of your journey through life so far, but I think the best years of your life are still to come, when you finally be that person you will become, through hard work, drive and personal commitment to learning in what ever field you pursue.

Try to remember that, as you face big changes, you are not alone. We will be thinking of you. There are good things waiting for you just around the corner. So step out with confidence and take new opportunities in your stride.

Keep up the absolutely brilliant work. Keep striving to always do your best. Enjoy your first day in Year 7. Enjoy meeting your first teacher. Enjoy your first school assembly at your new school.

Remember that tomorrow is the first day in the rest of your life.

Now among these children, we have a number of families who have been a part of the school for a very long time now and have come to the end of a long chapter. Along with these parents and families who have been with us for 6 years, there are some parents who have had children attending the school over the last 7 – 10 years. Thankyou to all of you for your contribution to the school. The school is certainly better for having you as part of the school family.

To our leavers …

Remember to take the Wairakei Learner characteristics with you as you carry on through life. Show the world you care. Be a thinker. Always work hard. Communicate effectively through any means possible, and continue to make those meaningful connections in order to develop as a unique individual. Always remember to show Aroha, Respect and Empathy in all you do. We have given you the skills and opportunity to practise these things. It is now up to you to carry on and show these through all you do as you move on in the next chapter of your life.

Whaia te iti kahuranga ki te tuahu koe, me he maunga teitei

Aim for the highest cloud so that if you miss it, you will hit a lofty mountain … or in other words Pursue your dreams.

So on that final note, I would like to wish everyone an absolutely brilliant Christmas time, an awesome holiday and great family times.

Nā reira, noho ora mai rā. Hei kona mai I roto I ngā mihi.

All the best and I look forward to seeing many of you again next year, in 2020. Stay Safe and have an absolutely brilliant Christmas.