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Empowering ākonga to achieve success and fulfilment, for themselves, whānau and community
Message from our Tumuaki
Message from our Tumuaki
Tēnā koutou katoa.
Celebrating Student Success and School Spirit
It’s been a vibrant and busy few weeks at school, with many events showcasing the talents, spirit, and leadership of our ākonga. Athletics Day held last Friday was a standout—an action-packed, whole-school event filled with energy, friendly competition, and a wonderful sense of belonging. It was a day where house pride was on full display, and students and staff alike came together to have fun and support each other.
These events are much more than just a break from the classroom—they are vital to fostering school spirit, positive connections and wellbeing. They help students develop confidence, resilience, and a sense of community—qualities that align strongly with our school values of Whānaungatanga (relationships and connections), Manaakitanga (respect and kindness), and Kairangi Whaiaro (personal excellence). You can see the Athletics Day results later in this pānui.
Leadership has also been at the forefront, with senior ākonga stepping up in various roles. From Interact Club initiatives that focus on giving service to others, to attending the Senior Pasifika Leadership Empowerment Day, and embracing opportunities such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award, our ākonga are developing into capable, compassionate leaders. These experiences not only benefit the wider community but also empower students to grow, lead with integrity, and make a positive difference in the world.
We are proud of all the ways our ākonga are living out our values and embracing the many opportunities available to them.
Mihi to our staff for their support of the many activities and of course to our whānau for your fabulous support of all that we do.
All the best to our ākonga for the Summer Tournament Week taking place next week. We look forward to hearing how you get on.
Wishing you all the best for the last few weeks of term.
Kia pai tō rā whakatā,
Mrs Dawn Ackroyd
Phone: 06 835 1069 Web: www.nghs.school.nz Main Office email: nghs@nghs.school.nz Principal's PA Email: dmcpherson@nghs.school.nz
Important Dates Coming Up
Important Dates Coming Up
MARCH 2025
Monday 24 - Friday 28: Summer Tournament Week
Monday 24: PTA/AAE Committee Meeting, 7pm in the staffroom, all welcome!
APRIL 2025
Wednesday 2: NCEA Evening for Y10 & Y11, 5.30pm in the Library
Thursday 3: Pasifika Wellington Trip
Thursday 3: Board Meeting, 5.30pm in H7
Thursday 3: Pūhoro Wānanga: Y12/13 Pūhoro Tauira
Friday 4: Hostel Open Day
Saturday 5 & Sunday 6: Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Training
Friday 11: Last day of of Term 1
Monday 28: First day of Term 2
Reviewing Board Policies
Reviewing Board Policies
Reviewing Board Policies, Term 1, 2025
This term the Napier Girls’ High School Board of Trustees is reviewing the following policies and are inviting input from parents/caregivers:
· Health, Safety, and Welfare Policy
· Safety Management System
· Risk Management
· Worker Engagement, Participation, and Representation
· Healthcare
· Recording and Reporting Accidents, Injuries, and Illness
If you wish to be part of this process, please follow these steps below:
Visit the website https://nghs.schooldocs.co.nz
Enter the username (nghs) and password (adlucem).
Click on “Current Review”
Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
Read the policy.
Click the blue “Start your review” button near the top right-hand corner of the page.
Select the reviewer type - "Whānau".
Enter your name (optional).
Submit your ratings and comments.
If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.
Thank you and we look forward to your feedback no later than Friday 28 March 2025.
Toi Whakaari - Performing Arts
Toi Whakaari - Performing Arts
Rotary Club Music Garden
On Wednesday 12 March, a small group of talented NGHS musicians headed to Anderson Park to support the Rotary Club of Napier and the official opening of the Music Garden. Rotary Napier has donated a set of outdoor musical instruments to the City of Napier to mark the club's Centennial. This is a fabulous initiative where all ages, whether they are musicians or not, can go on down to Anderson Park and enjoy the delight of making music together in a colourful and inviting environment.
The musical instruments were installed in Anderson Park on Friday 7 March and the official opening took place 4pm Wednesday 12 March.
Earlier in the term, Mr Gary Hemmings, President of the Napier Rotary Club, invited our girls to participate. We were more than happy to support this cause as Mr Hemmings is very involved in our kura. The students performed on both the new installed instruments as well as incorporating some of their own instruments. A lot of fun was had by all. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our students that attended the event - not only did they represent our kura extremely well, but they did so in their own time and out of their very busy schedules.
To see more information and photos, you can visit the Napier City Council’s Facebook page. The event was posted there on Thursday 13 March.
Ms Tess Tobin - HoLA Performing Arts
Hākinakina - Sports
Hākinakina - Sports
Good luck to our teams competing in summer tournament week competitions next week:
Canoe Polo - Hastings
Equestrian - Dannevirke
Futsal - Wellington
Sailing - Taupō
Tennis - Hamilton
Volleyball - Palmerston North
Waka Ama - Rotorua
Athletic Sports Results
We had such an awesome day last Friday - amazing participation, amazing weather, amazing athletes 🏃🏿♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃♀
Here are your 2025 Athletic Champions:
Year 9
🥇 Isabel Gutter
🥈Nadia Liesebach
🥉Kaia Ranston
Year 10
🥇 Tied: Alyssa Palmer and Olivia Johnson
🥉Alythea Gray
Year 11
🥇 Paige Dobson
🥈Zita Meo
🥉Rosa Angland
Year 12/13
🥇 Arna Paewai
🥈 Breeze van Veldhuizen
🥉Sophie Dunnett-Welch
House Results
Winners of the house cup were... 🥁🥁 NIWHA! This was by another narrow margin ahead of Māia, who were only 16 points behind.
Athletics
Congratulations to Zita Meo who competed in the NZ Track and Field Nationals in chilly Dunedin recently. Zita ran in the Under 18 Women’s 400m and placed 4th in the final.
Waka Ama
A fantastic day of racing took place at the Waka Ama Regionals at Te Whanganui-a-Orotū (Ahuriri Estuary)! 🏆🌊
Our NGHS paddlers put in some strong performances, with great results:
🥇 J19 W6 250m Turn Final – Champions!
🥈 J19 W6 500m Turn Final– 2nd place
🥇 Aria Taurima – J19 W1 250m Sprint Champion
Well done to all our paddlers (Stirling, Ruby, Keira, Mareikura, Morgan, Ella and Aria) for their hard work and determination on the water! 🚣♀️💙
Surf Life Saving
🏅 Success at the 2025 AON NZ Surf Lifesaving Championships 🌊
Our athletes are making waves in Gisborne, showing real skill and determination in challenging and exciting surf conditions.
🥇 Gold - U19 Sprint Relay: Lucy Kinnear, Lucy Angland, Rosa Angland.
🥇 Gold - U17 Beach Relay: Lucy Angland, Lucy Kinnear, Libby Redmond, Rosa Angland.
🥉 Bronze - Open Women’s Beach Flags and
🥉 Bronze - U19 Beach Flags: Lucy Angland
A fantastic effort from all our competitors 💙💛
Futsal
Senior Girls' Challenge Cup 🏆
Well down to our young futsal team who finished 3rd at the recent Challenge Cup. Shout out to Isabella Dollery, who won the Golden Gloves for the 2025 competition after only conceding 4 goals across the 5 games played. Well done Isabella!
Lesson1Pager.pdf
Motocross
Mia Scott competed in a MX event recently. This was her first ever event, no actual placing, but held her own against pretty experienced riders in the 12-18 year old women’s section.
Marching
Congratulations to Zahara-Lee Fontaine, Kailer Fontaine-Strong, Devon Foster, and Shylah-Ann Bevan-Shaw, who have just returned from competing at the Marching NZ Nationals in Invercargill with their team, the Buckingham Guards.
Zahara-Lee, Devon, and Shylah’s U18 team placed 3rd overall, while Kailer’s U13 team placed 5th in New Zealand — an incredible achievement!
Tino pai to all four students on their dedication and success!
Tennis
We had six players represent the school at the Derek Ward HBSS Tennis Tournament last week.
Congratulations to Gemma Johnson - HBSS Senior champ and Sophia Morris HBSS Junior Champ.
Other results in the senior division: Mansi Giri placed in third and Belle Kinnear and Kendra Wise were 5th and 6th. Ella Rutherford came 4th in the junior division.
Netball
We are excited to congratulate Arna Paewai on her selection for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Camp in Auckland this April! We’re also thrilled to see our 2024 NGHS top sports award winner (now based in Tauranga), Graecyn Parahi, selected also.
Canoe Slalom Bay of Plenty Championship
Greer Hambleton competed in the Bay of Plenty Championships for Canoe Slalom in Kawerau on Sunday, representing Hawke’s Bay. She came 1st in the U14 Women’s K1 and C1 events and 2nd in the U16 Women’s C2 event with her sister, Willow.
Tag Football
Kendal Waenga, Maia Nelson, and Kota Mackie played for the NZ invitational HB U15 team at the Oceania Tag Football Championships over the weekend where they won gold!
Students Coach Support 2025
Sport Hawke's Bay Student Coach Day is coming up! Sport HB along with HB Netball, HB Hockey, Central Football, Basketball HB and HB Rugby Union are excited to announce the 2025 Student Coach Day and we’d love for you to be part of it!
Students please register your interest with the Sports Office if you haven't already.
Date: Tuesday 8 April 8am – 12pm
Location: HB Netball Community Room – Mitre10 Hastings Sports Park
This event is dedicated to developing and supporting HB student coaches, building their confidence in planning and delivering effective coaching as they head into the winter season. Through engaging workshops and interactive sessions with Sport HB and our five codes, students will gain valuable skills, insights, and hands-on experience to enhance their coaching journey. It’s an opportunity not to be missed!
Horse of the Year
Our showjumping team did well at the Defender Horse of the Year competition, held over the weekend at the Tomoana Showgrounds. They secured 4th place overall in the Interschools event. With three double clear rounds, they showcased both skill and speed in a tough competition.
Congratulations to our riders and their horses:
Lucy Robinson (capt) – on Pioneer Tenacity
Addison Trumper – on Ngatamahine JJ Airtame
Chloe Cann – on Alpha Tauri
Millie Burne – on Cantiano
The three best scores from each team of four counted towards the final placing, with riders needing to jump clear and race against the clock over two rounds.
Final Standings:
1st – Woodford House
2nd – Craighead Dioscescan
3rd – Central Hawke's Bay College
4th – Napier Girls’ High School
Pegasus Cup
Napier Girls' have won the Pegasus Cup Sportsmanship Award at Takapoto and placed 10th overall in the Showjumping Cup.
Individual placings are:
Lucy Robinson riding Pioneer Tenacity: 1st Generate 1.00 - 1.05m Accumulator.
Britta Oliver riding Ginger Twist: 2nd Copilot 70cm Equitation.
Chloe Cann riding Alpha Tauri: 3rd in the Chris Fougere Orthopaedic Surgeon 90cm Equitation.
Addison Trumper riding Ngatamahine: JJ Airtime 5th in Petcover 1.00m Equitation.
Lucy Robinson.mp4
Volleyball
Our Senior A Volleyball team participated in the HBSS Open/HBSS Seeding Tournament last weekend at RGA finishing 3rd. They head away to NZSS Nationals in Palmerston North next week.
Coaches Needed
We would love to hear from any whānau available to coach the following teams next term:
Hockey 3rd XI - Sunday practice and Thursday games.
Junior Basketball - games on Mondays and practice tbc.
Aluma
Congratulations to alumna Briana Stephenson and her teammates. They have pulled off one of Hawke’s Bay’s biggest athletics relay successes by winning the senior women’s 4x100m at the 2025 Jennian Homes New Zealand Track and Field Championships in Dunedin. Ka rawe!
NZ Herald article HERE
Congratulations to Shyan Murphy for making the New Zealand Open Women's Touch Black Team.
Send Us Your Sports News!
If you have any representative selections, results, information or photos from external sporting events that occurred over the holidays or during the term, please send them to:
This information may be placed in the school newsletter and on our celebration wall in the gym or held for future consideration for school sports badges and achievement awards.
MJ Durkin - Head of Sport
The Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award
The Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award
Silver/Gold Training Tramp – Tararua Ranges
Over the weekend we had our first Duke of Edinburgh Bronze practice tramp. Our Bronze Award students are divided over two weekends. This first tramp had perfect weather to get a good taste of what the adventurous journey section is all about. This superb bunch of enthusiastic students, Mrs Raggett, Mr Poulgrain, Ms Reismann, Ms Chandler, Nick McCann and the Makahika OPC guides set up camp in the Kuripaponga campground, applied their training to cooking and map reading and then tramped around the Kaweka Lakes. After packing up on day two they tramped up to the Kuripaponga summit.
Thank you to the teaching staff for supporting these outstanding students - it is a big ask after a long week at school and is very much appreciated. Parent support on these journeys is also vital to their success, so a big thanks to Nick!
The next Bronze Practice Tramp is on 5-6 April and we have our fingers crossed for good weather! I’m sure the students are busy getting all the tips from their classmates.
Upcoming Tramp Dates
Bronze Award: 5-6 April (practice)
Silver Award: 10-11 May (practice), 12-14 Sept (final qualifying)
Gold Award: 12-14 Sept (practice)
As always, we need parent support on these tramps - if you have any questions about coming on a tramp please email me: lbassett-foss@nghs.school.nz
Mrs Louise Bassett-Foss
Umanga - Careers
Umanga - Careers
Rangatahi Hauora Symposium
Our Year 13 Physical Education classes were lucky to attend the recent Rangatahi Hauora Symposium at Toitoi Event Centre on Friday 7 March along with other Hawke's Bay schools. The day consisted of workshops with guest speakers, who spoke about the Te Whare Tapa Wha and the 5 dimensions of Hauora, which is an important concept in our Health and Physical Education programme. Students participated in interactive activities in each workshop and gained a deeper understanding of the dimensions that make up our well-being. Students also had the opportunity to engage with different tertiary providers throughout the day and learn about different career pathways in the Health industry. There were physical challenges, fun activities, games and lots of giveaways and prizes. It was a great day and students took away new knowledge to use in their lives and at school. Many thanks to Mrs Caroline Johnson and Ms Jo Hadley for organising the event and to Mrs Ana Savage and Mrs Amanda Petera for accompanying the students.
PIC Dairy Industry Day
On Wednesday 12 March, 11 students from our Primary Industries class at Napier Girls’ High School were fortunate enough to attend The Dairy & Beyond Students' Day Out. This is an annual event created to inspire secondary school students about dairy farming and the related careers in the industry. Students had the opportunity to be immersed in activities that happen directly on a dairy farm as well as interacting with businesses that assist in ensuring the dairy farm is productive and successful. The event was held on the Sherwood Farm at Ashley Clinton. Students experienced milking a cow and driving a tractor. They also learnt about Animal Health and Feeding, Financial Goal Setting, Environment concerns and wellbeing, all hot topics for our primary industries in New Zealand. It was an interesting and fun farm day out.
Year 13 Tertiary Information Sessions
We have held a number of tertiary information sessions during this term. It has been great to see so many of our students attending these sessions and exploring their options before the decision making begins.
The remaining presentations are as follows:
Tuesday 25 March: Massey University at 10:30am
Tuesday 13 May: Otago University at 10:30am
Mrs Caroline Johnson & Mrs Debra Verhoeven - Careers Advisors
Respect for our Environment
Respect for our Environment
A friendly reminder to our School community and visitors:
Chewing gum is not permitted on our school grounds. Unfortunately, the damage caused by discarded gum — on paving, paths, carpets and furniture — has a lasting impact on our environment. We appreciate your support upholding our school value of manaakitanga and in keeping our school clean and welcoming for everyone. Thank you for your cooperation!
Phone: 06 835 1069 Web: www.nghs.school.nz Main Office email: nghs@nghs.school.nz Principal's PA Email: dmcpherson@nghs.school.nz
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