Embedded Files
Empowering ākonga to achieve success and fulfilment, for themselves, whānau and community
Message from our Acting Tumuaki
Message from our Acting Tumuaki
Tēnā koutou katoa.
Ānei te whakanuia o te kapa o te kura nei, o Tūāhuriri. Last Friday, Tūāhuriri (our kapa haka students, combined with Napier Boys’ High School) absolutely blew the audience away with their polished, intense, and emotionally charged performance, and were placed third overall! For those of us who have been walking alongside these ākonga as they prepared for this competition, we knew they were capable of gaining one of the four coveted spots at Tauranga Moana Nationals in 2026 - but we also knew they were up against some incredibly stiff competition! The success of Tūāhuriri means we get to represent the region again at Nationals next year! The elation and pride felt by everyone at kura and by whānau is still evident as these ākonga walk amongst us with their heads held high, knowing that they have achieved something truly incredible. Bridie Derbidge (kaitātaki wahine) was placed first equal female leader and deserves a special mention - ka rawe Bridie! I would like to acknowledge Arona Maui, Tauru Johnston, Juanita Cotter, Whaea Grace, Mr Pīpī, Miss Harvey, and a number of supportive Old Girls' for their unwavering support over this campaign, and also to Mr Otto and Miss Gardner for the significant part they played. To the whānau and wider circle of supporters who provided the kai and aroha that fuelled this kaupapa - ngā mihi. The achievement of these students is an inspiration to us all.
Earlier in the week, over 70 students presented a sophisticated and moving performance at Showquest. Although they were not placed, the students showed passion and commitment and the record number of Year 13 students involved ensured their legacy will be passed on! Like all performing arts students - our dancers have now moved on to preparing for the next gig - DanceNZ Made.
On the sporting front, our teams returned from the Tauranga exchange triumphant, and the trophy is safely locked away in our cabinet for another year. The Palmerston North Girls’ High School exchange is later this term - no pressure girls, but we would like this one back too!
This week is Samoan Language week and our two Pasifika Prefects, Mischa Lemalu and Destiny Tuese, have organised various activities to celebrate this very special language.
A final reminder that school is closed on Monday 2 June for King's Birthday and Tuesday 3 June as we take the first of the government approved professional development days for 2025.
I hope you are all able to enjoy some special family time over the upcoming long weekend.
Ngā mihi nui
Mrs Megan Mannering
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
JUNE 2025
Monday 2: School and Hostel Closed - King's Birthday
Tuesday 3: Teacher-Only Day
Tuesday 3 - Wednesday 4: Hawke's Bay Chamber Music Contest
Wednesday 4: ECNI Cross Country Champs, Gisborne
Thursday 5: Year 11 Social Event at Napier Boys' High School
Saturday 7: Smokefree Rockquest/Tangata Beats Finals
Monday 9: PTA Meeting, 7.00pm in the staffroom, all welcome
Wednesday 11: Big Sing Regionals, Toi Toi
Friday 13: NZAJLT Japanese Trivia Championship
Friday 13: Manu Kōrero, Napier War Memorial & Conference Centre
Tuesday 17: Pūhoro Wānanga, offsite all day
Tuesday 17: Junior Quiz Night with NBHS, 6.30 - 8.30pm, NGHS Hall
Wednesday 18: Music Evening
Thursday 19: Shakespeare Day for all Y9 ākonga
Friday 20: School and Hostel Closed - Matariki
Sunday 22 - Friday 27: Year 11 Leadership Camp at Hillary Outdoors, Tongariro
Monday 23: Distance Learning Day. Senior Parent-Teacher Meetings.
Wednesday 25: PNGHS Exchange
Wednesday 25: Level 2 & 3 Music Performances
Thursday 26: NBHS/NGHS Exchange/Showcase, 12.30 - 3.00pm
Thursday 26: Board Meeting, 5.30pm
Friday 27: END OF TERM 2
Toi Whakaari - Performing Arts
Toi Whakaari - Performing Arts
Music Month
In the Performing Arts department we always love celebrating music, but in May, we turn it up! To celebrate NZ Music Month, there have been various musical activities put on during intervals and lunchtimes. Some of these activities include karaoke, Rockband performances, and formtime quizzes. We have a poster competition in the pipeline, so watch this space!
Chamber Music
The Hawke’s Bay Chamber Music Contest has come around quickly! On Tuesday 3 June we will be taking 15 Chamber groups to the Blyth Performing Arts Centre at Iona College in Havelock North for the contest. Chamber Music is an excellent opportunity for the girls to be involved in, and we welcome you to come and watch. Session 1 is at 1pm, and session 2 is at 4pm. Entry is by koha. After all sessions are completed, up to 8 groups overall, will be chosen to progress to the district final on Wednesday 4 June at 6.30pm. This is open for viewing as well.
Rockquest
Four of our NGHS Rockbands, three solo/duos and our NGHS/NBHS Rock band competed in the regional Rockquest competition on Saturday 24 May.
Tori Gibbs and Eliza Woods were placed in the top 2 of the region for their duo performance of Tori’s original composition. They now sit in the top 35 solo/duo contestants in NZ. They now need to compose 3 original pieces to be considered for a placement in the top 10.
LUCIDATION, which consists of NGHS students: Tayla Baxter on Guitar, Audrey Anna Robin on Vocals, Chloe Evans on Bass (see photo), and NBHS student Manawa Rakete on Drums, made it through to the regional finals with their original composition ‘Peacemaker’. This event will be held on 7 June at Toi Toi event centre at 6pm where they will present two original compositions. Tickets are available on EventFinda.
We wish both groups all the very best for the next stages of their competition. We are extremely proud of them.
Music Evening - 18 June 2025
Our annual Music Evening will be held on June 18 at 7.00pm in the NGHS hall. This is an evening to celebrate all the AMAZING performances our students have been involved in over the past 2 terms.
We are an exceptionally busy department and this year’s Music Evening is proving to be an exciting line up of awesome talent from solos, duos, ensembles, both rock and chamber groups, our orchestra, concert band, and our two wonderful choirs. Be sure to calendar this date and look out for details to follow.
The Big Sing
Both our auditioned choir, Ad Lucem, and our all-comers choir, Ngā Ihi o te Rā, are busy preparing for the Big Sing East Coast regional competition.
As part of their preparation, Ad Lucem held a choir camp at the beginning of the month. They were thrilled to work with Elisha Fa’i So’oialo, who arranged our Samoan piece ‘Sina Oe/Manu o le Vaveao’. She put us through our paces on our Samoan pronunciation, mili pati and actions! By the end of the weekend we were looking and sounding much more confident.
If you want to come along to the Big Sing to support the choirs (or just to hear some lovely choral singing!) then tickets for the gala concert on the evening of Wednesday 11 June are available at EventFinda.
Audiences are also welcome to come to the daytime sessions where the competition takes place. Ngā Ihi o te Rā will be performing in the 9.30am session and Ad Lucem will be in the 1.30pm session. Entry for this is a $5 door charge.
Showquest
Seven years strong! 🙌 This year marked our seventh consecutive Showquest entry and with a team of 76 students, including 20 Year 13s in their final year, it was our biggest and boldest yet. Our show, "Salem: A Dance of Fear", was a striking blend of dance, drama, live music and visual design, exploring the chaos of mass hysteria and fear-driven judgment. Although we didn’t place in the top three for the first time, we were proud to be recognised in Drama, Music, and Art, and received the School Spirit Award - possibly thanks to our TikTok costume transition on show day and our student leaders doing the worm on stage! This year’s team embodied storytelling, creativity, courage, and connection - and we think that's a success worth shouting about. Thank you to every student who poured their soul into this. We are incredibly proud of what we created together. 💕
Ms Tess Tobin - HoLA Performing Arts
Hākinakina - Sports
Hākinakina - Sports
Sports Exchange vs Tauranga Girls' College
NGHS teams participated in an exciting day of competition in netball, hockey, football, rugby, and badminton. We were successful in 6 out of the 9 encounters to retain the title and return home with the trophy in hand! Thank you to our student helpers, staff, coaches, parents, and to Tauranga Girls' for the fun event.
Congratulations to the players who received the Most Valuable Player and Fair Play awards for their representative teams.
Important Date Coming Up
Wednesday 25 June:
PNGHS Sports Exchange in Palmerston North
Napier Athletics Club Awards
Congratulations to Stephanie Chandra, who was awarded the NAC all events trophy for being the highest points scorer overall in all track and field events for the season for 13 year old girls. Stephanie was also awarded the Trixie Cup for the highest winning points over 3 races - the 60m, 100m and 200m race. She was also awarded her medals from the Hawke's Bay/Gisborne Track and Field 2025 Championships which she competed at in February, placing:
1st in high jump
1st in long jump
2nd in the 200m
3rd in the 100m
NISS Horse Trials
Huge congratulations to our NGHS NISS horse trial teams who competed in Taupō over the weekend. Over two big days of dressage, showjumping and cross country, both our Rātā and Akeake teams did us proud.
NGHS Rātā (95 cm class)
Winners of the Dressage Cup (Top Dressage Team)
Winners of the 95 cm Team Trophy (Top Overall Team)
Charlotte Harding & Riverview Memphis – 1st in Class 1C
Chloe Cann & Alpha Tauri – 1st in Class 1D
Addison Trumper & Ngatamahine JJ Airtime – 2nd in Class 1B
NGHS Akeake (80 cm class)
Taylor Bremner & Dutiful Willow – 5th in Class 2A on debut!
Also representing Akeake were:
Addison Oliver & Revilo Mac
Jemma Haenga & Hikorangi
Lucy Robinson & Miss Tilly
Well done to all riders, horses and supporters!
Let Us Know Your Sports News!
We love to acknowledge our students’ sporting achievements outside of school. 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 sport@nghs.school.nz
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.
NZ Surf Life Saving
HUGE congratulations to Lucy Kinnear (Year 11), who will compete for the Youth Team in the Battle of the Tasman Competition, in Australia in August. 🌊🌊🌊👏
Three national representative teams have been selected for the Battle of Tasman on the Gold Coast in August 2025, a Trans-Tasman event that caters to athletes deeper into the performance pathway. This competition aims to prepare athletes for the Lifesaving World Championship format, the pinnacle event in lifesaving sport.
HB Marathon
We’d like to give a huge shout out to the kaimahi (staff) and ākonga (students) who took part in the ASICS Runaway Hawke’s Bay Marathon and Half Marathon a few weeks ago. Under stunning skies, nearly 8,000 participants ran through the breathtaking landscapes of our region — and we were proud to be among them!
Staff who completed the half marathon:
• Mrs Roberts
• Mr Otto (alongside his daughter and alumna, Brianna)
• Miss Gardner
• Mrs Dolley (and daughter, current Year 13 student, Maddy)
• Ms Philipps – from our finance team
A special mention to Miss Creagh, who placed 11th female out of 2,234 and 2nd in her age group. Te mutunga kē mai o te pai!
Ngā mihi nui also to the many student volunteers who gave their time to help the event run smoothly. The HB Marathon is a fantastic day for our region, and your mahi was truly appreciated.
Manawatu U17 Badminton Tournament
Congratulations to Year 10 student Alexa Catacutan who won silver in the mixed doubles. She also made the semi-finals in the girls' doubles.
ECNI Relays
Congratulations to our five cross country teams who competed at the East Coast North Island (ECNI) Cross Country Championships in Havelock North this week! Our students ran with grit, determination, and school pride across every age group. We’re thrilled to share the following outstanding results:
Year 9 teams – 1st place and 2nd place
Natasha MacRae
Kaia Ranston
Lili Caviale-Delzescaux
Isobel Hodgkinson
Paige Roe
Nadia Liesebach
Stephanie Chandra
Seersha Flynn
Junior Team – 4th place
Alyssa Palmer
Libby Furlong
Greer Hambleton
Sophia Morris
Senior teams – 1st place and 3rd place
Paige Dobson
Jamie Dunnett-Welch
Anatea Caviale-Delzescaux
Sophie Dunnett-Welch
Lola Nicholls
Aimee Hooper
Ruby Kaye
Zoe Young
Natasha MacRae won the cup for the fastest Year 9 lap, and Paige Dobson won the fastest senior.
Ka mau te wehi to all our athletes and thank you to our coaches and supporters who helped make this success possible.
MJ Durkin - Head of Sport
The Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award
The Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award
Duke of Edinburgh's Award – Don’t Forget to Get Signed Off!
As our Year 13 students prepare to take their next exciting steps beyond school, this is a timely reminder to ensure your Duke of Edinburgh Award is fully signed off and up-to-date. Whether you’re heading to university, starting an apprenticeship, or entering the workforce, your DoE Award is a powerful addition to any application or reference. Colleges, universities, and employers love to see the commitment, resilience, and leadership that the DoE represents – so make sure all your sections are completed and approved to get the recognition you deserve!
For all participants, no matter what stage you’re at, keeping your online record books updated regularly makes the whole process much easier and saves you a lot of time down the line. Don’t let small delays hold you back from achieving your award.
Need help? Remember, I’m in the library every lunchtime with Brooke, ready to assist anyone at any stage of their award. Whether you're just starting or finishing off the last few bits, drop by – we’re here to support you.
Keep going, and make sure you finish what you started – your future self will thank you!
Mrs Louise Bassett-Foss
Umanga - Careers
Umanga - Careers
Year 12 Road Education Safety Day
Our Year 12 students attended the Road Safety Education Programme at McLean Park on Wednesday 21 May.
RYDA is the leading and only national road safety education programme for youth in New Zealand. The programme featured engaging practical demonstrations which have been designed to provide young people with the skills and strategies they need to stay safe on the roads. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to set road safety goals and build strategies alongside the friends they will most likely be riding with, as drivers or passengers.
Thank you to the PTA for funding this event for our students.
Hawke's Bay Careers Expo
On Tuesday 27 May, our Year 12 students went to the Careers Expo at Pettigrew Green Arena. The students explored a number of study, training and employment options. The expo provided the students with information from a wide range of tertiary and industry providers. Students were inspired and informed of the many exciting pathways that exist for them in the world of work.
Thank you to the PTA for funding the transport for this event.
Year 10 Careers Morning
We are on the lookout for a range of speakers to talk to our Year 10 students on Friday 18 July. The purpose of the morning is to help our students explore a variety of career options and to inspire them into the world of work. If you are interested in participating in the morning and willing to share your career journey, please email jhadley@nghs.school.nz for more information.
Tertiary Open Days
Tertiary Open Days give students and parents the opportunity to explore the campus and experience first-hand what the tertiary environment is like. You are invited to visit special displays and presentations and explore the various facilities students use. We recommend that the students go to the tertiary open days as it is an important part of the decision-making process.
Below are the dates of the Tertiary Open Days for this year:
12 June: EIT Information Day from 9am to 6pm.
18 July: Lincoln University
6 August: Massey University (Manawatu Campus)
15 August: Massey University (Auckland Campus)
22 August: Victoria University
22 August: Massey University (Wellington Campus)
30 August: Auckland University
30 August: AUT
5 September: Canterbury University
Hawke’s Bay Information Evenings
A number of the universities will be visiting Hawke’s Bay this term and hosting information evenings for students and parents to attend. All of the sessions listed below are being held at the Napier War Memorial Centre.
3 June (6pm start): University of Canterbury - Register here
10 June (6pm)*: Auckland University - Register here
*This is an online session
11 June (6pm start): Waikato University - Register here
25 June (6pm start): Auckland University - Register here
University Scholarships for Year 13 Students
We have a number of Universities coming into school this term to provide information on Scholarships. Additionally, MoneyHub, a consumer finance website, has published a guide to hundreds of scholarships for any student planning to start university in 2026. The comprehensive list includes scholarships offered by every university as well as those specifically available to local students. A list of privately-funded, Māori, Pacific and International university scholarships completes the list.
Applications close throughout the year, with tens of millions of dollars available. MoneyHub has also published a list of tips for scholarship success.
For more details and to find suitable scholarships, visit the MoneyHub Scholarship page
Mrs Caroline Johnson & Mrs Debra Verhoeven - Careers Advisors
Free Dental Care
Free Dental Care
Thank you for helping us changes lives, one smile at a time!
Napier Girls’ High School is excited to inform you that your child is eligible for free dental care provided by the Ministry of Health. As part of this initiative, Dental Planet Mobile Dental Units will be visiting our school from 14 - 25 July 2025 to offer comprehensive dental check-ups and treatment, funded by Health NZ / Te Whatu Ora at absolutely no cost to whānau.
This service aims to ensure your child’s oral health is in excellent condition and to address any dental issues early on.
Dental Planet’s qualified dental professionals will provide services such as:
• Dental examinations
• Cleaning and polishing
• Necessary dental treatments (fluoride treatment, fillings, sealants, etc.)
For more information about the programme, please click on link below to consent enrolment:
We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to ensure your child's oral health is in excellent condition. If your child is currently enrolled with another dental provider and you wish to continue with them, select "No" on the enrolment consent form.
Dental Planet is committed to ensuring a positive experience for your child, and all services will be provided following strict safety and hygiene guidelines.
If you have any questions or would like more information about the services, feel free to contact us at 0800 262 2022 or mobiles@dentalplanet.co.nz
ERO Te Ihuwaka Surveys
ERO Te Ihuwaka Surveys
Researchers at the Education Review Office (ERO) are doing some research about school attendance. They want to hear your thoughts about what makes a difference. Please help by clicking on this survey link: Parent and Whānau survey
Reviewing Board Policies, Term 2, 2025
Reviewing Board Policies, Term 2, 2025
This term the Napier Girls’ High School Board is reviewing the following policies and are inviting input from parents/caregivers:
Planning and Preparing for Emergencies, Disasters, and Crises
Communication During an Emergency, Disaster, or Crisis
Emergency Closure
Emergency Management
Disaster Management
Crisis Management
Thank you and we look forward to your feedback no later than Thursday 26 June 2025.
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.
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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