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Empowering ākonga to achieve success and fulfilment, for themselves, whānau and community
Message from our Tumuaki
Message from our Tumuaki
Kia ora koutou,
As we come to the end of another busy and rewarding term, there has been much to celebrate across our kura.
Last week was Book Week, with a wonderful range of activities encouraging our students to celebrate books, reading, and the joy of stories. The week concluded with our Year 13 students dressing as characters from their favourite childhood books, bringing plenty of colour, fun and happy memories to the school. Many thanks to our Academic Prefects - Sam Formosa and Tayla Baxter - for organising such an enjoyable and engaging week.
This week, we have celebrated Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. Our 2026 theme, “He manu hou ahau, he kōrero āku” — “I am a young bird, and I have stories to tell” — reminds us that every student has a voice, a story, and something valuable to contribute. Te Wiki o te Reo Māori encourages us all to have the confidence to use our voices, learn new kupu and phrases, and recognise te reo Māori as a taonga that enriches our identity as a school and as a nation.
At Napier Girls’ High School, te reo Māori is an important part of who we are. It strengthens our sense of belonging, connects us with the history and culture of Aotearoa, and helps us to live our values of Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga and Kairangi Whaiaro. I encourage our students and whānau to continue using and celebrating te reo Māori beyond this special week — every kupu spoken helps the language to grow and thrive.
As the term concludes, we also farewell Madame Jackson, our TIC French, who is leaving us to take up a teaching position in Paris. We wish Madame Jackson all the best.
Thank you to our students, staff and whānau for your hard work and support throughout the term. I hope everyone enjoys a well-earned break and returns refreshed and ready for the term ahead.
Kia pai ngā hararei — have a wonderful holiday.
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
SEPTEMBER 2026
Friday 18 - Sunday 20: DanceNZMade Nationals
Monday 21: Level 2 Music Performance Evening
Wednesday 23: Flute Recital, 3.30pm
Wednesday 23: NGHS Cross Country Champs
Wednesday 23 - Thursday 24: Senior Technology Trip in Wellington
Thursday 24: Year 13 Speech Finals
Thursday 24: Board Meeting, 5.30pm, H7
Thursday 24: Year 13 Drama Class Play, Little Theatre, 6pm -7.30pm.
Friday 25: House Choir, P5. Last day of Term 3
OCTOBER 2026
Monday 12: Start of Term 4
Monday 12 - Friday 16: Mental Health Awareness Week
Thursday 15: Fiafia Night, 6pm, school hall
Thursday 15: Guitar Concert, 6pm, N1
Friday 16: Senior Japanese Quiz Night
Monday 19: PTA Meeting, 7pm, staffroom
Thursday 22: Senior Art Exhibition, 3pm - 6pm, school hall
Friday 23: School and Hostel closed - Hawke's Bay Anniverary
Monday 26: School and Hostel closed - Labour Day
Tuesday 27: Technology Showcase, 6pm
Wednesday 28: Pō Whakanui
NOVEMBER 2026
Thursday 5: Y11-13 study leave commences (from lunchtime)
Tuesday 10: NCEA Examinations start
Toi Whakaari - Performing Arts
Toi Whakaari - Performing Arts
Chamber Music NZ Big I - Hōhepa Exchange
Music, connection, creativity and plenty of fun!
On Monday 14 September, we were delighted to host the Big I Workshop, a wonderful collaboration between Chamber Music New Zealand, Hōhepa, and Napier Girls’ High School.
Ten of our talented students - Lily Harrington, Connie Zeng, Zilin Zhao, Isabel Redpath, Nikita Harding, Eva Aparicio Pierard, Ada Seymour, Jasmine Hacker, Keely Flynn and Emma Duncan - joined students from Hōhepa for a special day of music-making, led by the inspiring team from Chamber Music New Zealand.
Working alongside their Hōhepa partners, our students embraced the spirit of the day, sharing their musical talents, trying new things and discovering the joy of creating together. The workshop was a fantastic celebration of inclusion, collaboration and the power of music to bring people together.
We are incredibly proud of the way our students represented Napier Girls’ High School. Their enthusiasm, kindness, creativity and their willingness to share their talents helped make the day such a memorable experience for everyone involved.
A huge thank you to Hōhepa and Chamber Music New Zealand for creating such a positive and inspiring opportunity.
The girls have been invited to attend the NZCM performance of NZ Trio + on Saturday 19 September at the MTG Theatre. We are looking forward to this evening.
Young Musician of the Year 2026
Two of our Year 11 students, Zilin Zhao and Isabella Shortall, took part in the Young Musician of the Year preliminary competition on Saturday 12 September where they impressed the adjudicator and audience with their performances of classical and contemporary music. Both girls performed beautifully and presented their programme with passion and confidence.
We are incredibly proud to have Zilin Zhao representing Napier Girls’ High School in this year’s Final for Young Musician of the Year competition on Friday 18 September.
The six finalists will play their same programmes on Friday evening and the winner will be chosen by Susan Smith, a pianist, teacher and adjudicator from Auckland.
We wish Zilin the very best as she takes to the stage. We know she will perform with passion, dedication and confidence.
NBHS Voxology choir will also perform in the interlude.
There are still tickets available, so why not come along and support our students while enjoying an evening of outstanding performances and inspiring young musicians!
House Choir - Let the Singing Begin!
As Term 3 draws to a close, there is one event that has students singing, rehearsing and rallying behind their houses The annual House Choir Competition! The competition will take place during Period 5 on Friday 25th at 1.30pm and we cannot wait to see (and hear!) what our houses have been preparing.
This year’s set song is the iconic "I’m Still Standing" by Elton John, and our choirs have been working hard to put their own unique stamp on this much-loved classic. We are especially excited to see what creative stamp each house takes, expect plenty of personality, energy and, of course, some serious vocal talent!
Adding another layer to the competition, each house has selected a choice song, and this year’s selections offer a wonderful mix of styles and sounds. With such a diverse repertoire, we are in for an entertaining and unpredictable competition!
We are also thrilled to welcome Suzy Baker, the Head of Performing Arts at Hastings Girl’s High School, who will be adjudicating this year’s competition.
A huge round of applause goes to our House Captains, whose commitment, energy and enthusiasm have brought the House Choirs to life. From organising rehearsals to encouraging their fellow students, they have worked tirelessly to get their houses ready for the big day.
So, warm up those vocal cords, find your house spirit and get ready to cheer from the sidelines! Good luck to all our houses and may the best (sounding) house win!
Youthfest
In August, we had 16 students take part in the Hawke’s Bay Youthfest. We were one of five schools participating, with two entries among the ten performances presented.
Each performance is either student-devised or written by a New Zealand playwright. Both of our entries were written by NZ playwrights and directed by our talented students, Tori Gibbs and Anabelle McGregor.
Everyone performed exceptionally well. Enter the Villain, written by Susan Battye and directed by Tori Gibbs, was awarded Excellence in Technical Elements and a Beautiful Moment award. Issy Redpath was also recognised with a Merit in Acting award.
Free Fall, written by Ken Mizusawa and directed by Anabelle McGregor, was also recognised for its talent. Tori Gibbs received a Merit in Acting award for her role as Jen. The piece was awarded Outstanding Scripted Piece and selected to represent Hawke’s Bay at the Youthfest Finals, held at Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North.
The finals weekend was a fantastic experience for everyone. There was an incredible amount of talent on offer from schools across the Massey region, and our Napier Girls' students performed beautifully. It was a privilege to watch them take to the stage — and boy, were they rewarded for their efforts!
The awards included Merit in Acting for Stella Edwards and Tori Gibbs, Excellence in Acting for Eva Warr, a Beautiful Moment award for the use of the split stage and the performers peering over the edge in unison, Excellence in Directing for Anabelle McGregor, Excellence in Scripted Production, and Overall Outstanding Performance. Such an outstanding effort by the entire cast and creative team.
Year 12 Music Evening
On Monday 21 September at 6pm in the School Hall, our Level 2 Music Students will be presenting their final Performance Evening for the year. We would love our whānau, friends, students and staff to join us in listening to the final pieces of our students repertoires.
Singing the National Anthem at the North Island Leisure Marching Competition
A Proud Musical Moment at Pettigrew Arena!
We are incredibly proud to announce that four talented Napier Girls’ High School music students - Tori Gibbs, Eliza Woods, Jasmine Hacker and Tula Pancotti - have been invited to sing the New Zealand National Anthem at the North Island Leisure Marching Event on Saturday 19 September at Pettigrew Arena.
With more than 400 competitors from across New Zealand expected to take part, this promises to be a spectacular celebration of marching, music and community. The event will be officially opened by Irene van Dyke, adding to what will be a very special occasion.
Performing the National Anthem in front of such a large audience is a wonderful opportunity for our students, and we know they will rise to the occasion with confidence and pride.
We wish Tori, Eliza, Jasmine and Tula all the very best, we know they will do our kura proud.
Flute Recital - Celebrating Our Flute Students!
We are delighted to invite whānau and friends to our Flute Recital on Wednesday 23 September, where our talented flute students will take to the stage to share their musical progress and passion for performance.
Each student will perform 2–3 pieces, with a wonderful variety of solo and ensemble performances showcasing the dedication, confidence and musical growth of our flautists. It promises to be a lovely afternoon filled with beautiful music!
We would also like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks to our wonderful flute tutor, Mrs Naomi Fenwick, for her expertise, encouragement and guidance. Her support plays an important role in helping our students develop their skills and confidence as they continue along their musical journey.
When: Wednesday 23 September, 3.30pm
Where: N6
Who: Whānau and friends are warmly invited!
We look forward to sharing this special musical afternoon with you and celebrating the achievements of our flute students!
Solo Singing Cup Results
On Wednesday 10 September we were fortunate enough to have Polly Bates of Groove Foundation come into school to adjudicate the annual Solo Singing Competition. We had an incredible turn out from all year groups, which made for a beautiful morning of singing.
Congratulations to the following students who placed in our annual Solo singing competition:
Year 9
3rd - Lauren Alexander
2nd - Katelyn Howard
1st - Lexie Stewart
Year 10
3rd - Anouk Linter-Beck
2nd - Jessie McNally
1st - Lucia Ancell
Senior
3rd Equal - Mikayla Davies and Isabella McCann
2nd - Charlotte Brown
1st - Eliza Woods
Thank you to all who competed, it is not easy to sing in front of anyone, let alone someone like the wonderful Polly. We really appreciate Polly taking the time to come into school and offer her talents.
Letters to Lindy.pdfJulius Caesar School Newsletter.pdfEnd of Term
We want to end this term with a massive thank you to our students, staff, and wider community for another BIG term - there were so many events that highlighted just how important all of you are. With two national competitions, multiple regionals attended, assessment evenings, cultural exchanges, singing and choir competitions and too many awards to hold onto, this has been a term to remember. Enjoy your holiday, relax and reflect. Term 4 is on the horizon and we cannot wait to see what this final term has in store, it is short and sweet so take advantage of the opportunities that come up. See you in Term 4!
Ms Tess Tobin - HoLA Performing Arts
Hākinakina - Sports
Hākinakina - Sports
Coming Up: Wednesday 23 September - NGHS Cross Country Race
The following Term 4 sports are now open for registration on Kindo:
Futsal - Mondays at RGA
Volleyball - Tuesdays at RGA
Touch - Wednesdays at Tareha Reserve (Taradale Rugby & Sports Club)
Tennis lessons - Wednesdays or Thursdays at lunchtime
Indoor Cricket - Thursdays at Bay Indoor Sports in Onekawa
Kī o Rahi - TBC
Please see the sports office if you haven't been advised you're in a team yet.
Winter Tournament Week Results
What a week! While we had a mix of results across our teams, and some may not always have achieved the outcomes they hoped for, our students showed determination, resilience and true team spirit throughout. They never gave up, continued to support one another and represented NGHS with pride - something of which we can all be very proud. We’ve had many positive reports of fun, new friendships and plenty of memorable moments. A huge thank you to all our students, coaches, staff and supporters who helped make Tournament Week such a success.
Premier Netball: LWNI Tournament
Final Game: Win 28-31 vs Sacred Heart Lower Hutt
7th overall
Equestrian: NISS
NGHS Kauri 1st in CTR and overall
NGHS Matai 3rd in CTR
Our NGHS riders also won a $500 voucher from Taupō Equestrian Supplies for being Good Sports
1st XI Football: National Girls Premier Tournament
Final: Win 2-0 vs Epsom
29th overall
2nd XI Hockey: Tier 2 Tournament
Final: Win 3-0 vs Villa Maria
Finished 5th overall!
Senior A Basketball: AA Regional Tournament
Final Game: Win 50-47 vs Wellington Girls
9th overall
1st XI Hockey: Federation Cup
Final Game: Loss 2-0 vs Whanganui Collegiate
Finished: 12th overall!
Hockey 2nd X1Waka Ama
Well done to our Y13 ākonga Aria Taurima! What an incredible achievement representing Aotearoa in the J19 Elite Team at the Singapore Waka Ama World Championships. Aria came away with some amazing results:
Netball HB
Congratulations to all players selected for the Central Zone Secondary School Tournament this Saturday! 👏
A fantastic achievement and recognition of your hard work and dedication. We wish you all the very best!🖤🤍
Clay Target Competition
Congratulations to our shooting team who won the Central & Lower North Island Secondary School competition. Emma McLachlan, Sienna Williams, and Georgia Mabin's 1st place score was 240/300.
Georgia - 1st single rise
Emma - 2nd equal
Georgia - HOA (Highest Overall) girls - Withers Trophy
Georgia - HOA Girl Hunting and Fishing sponsored
Emma - 2nd Girl Hunting and Fishing sponsored.
Georgia Mabin also won The Withers Trophy for Girls' High Gun for her overall series results:
HOA Single rise - Lowry Family Cup
3rd Single barrel
HOA Girl - John Malcom Trophy
Equestrian
The New Zealand Pony Club (NZPCA) team announcements came out last week and Isobel Walklin has been selected to represent NZPCA in the Pony Club International Association (PCIA) Virtual Jumping Show 2026.
Because members are globally dispersed, PICA organises major international events where riders compete in dressage and show-jumping equitation events. Selected riders film their tests on home soil and get judged alongside international peers. Riders submit an application with their Show Jumping results over the previous 12 months, and if selected they are required to submit a filmed Show Jumping round on a set course plan sent out by the organisers and are judged by an international panel on their skills.
Isobel and her horse Glenardon Geronimo will compete against 150 riders from New Zealand, Australia, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong and Ireland in the 90cm Show Jumping class.
Alumna
Well done to our ex students who competed in the Netball Smart NNZ Open Champs tournament here at PGA over the weekend:
Belle Kinnear
Valentine Kahukura
Anika Barham
Jade Poi
Parris Petera
Coach Jewels Falcon
Coach Anne Marie Kupa (ex NGHS Senior A coach)
FREE Opportunities
Young athletes spend countless hours developing their technical and physical skills, but there’s much more that goes into developing and performing in sport.
How do you reset mentally when things don’t go to plan? How do you keep improving and get the best out of yourself? How do you fuel and recover when you have game after game?
We love to acknowledge student achievements!
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, on social media and on our celebration wall in the gym, or held for future consideration for school sports badges and achievement awards.
Road Cycling
Ramblers have new race days for Spring and Summer. Spring Racing is 9am on Sundays with Summer racing at 6pm on Thursdays. Come join us and give it a go. If you have any questions, please contact admin@ramblers.co.nz or ramblers.schools@gmail.com
Hawkes Bay Heat Give-it-a-go day (Deanna).pdfMrs MJ Durkin - Head of Sport
Umanga - Careers
Umanga - Careers
REACH experience
At the beginning of August, I attended the REACH (Realising Educational Aspirations for Careers in Health) programme at the University of Otago for Year 13 Māori students. During this trip we toured the campus, attended lectures and labs, and talked to many people who were involved with health degrees at the university. My highlight of the trip was being there for the first snow day in the last four years. This opportunity provided me with the support I need to transition into first year health sciences in 2027 at Otago.
Rangimarie Takurua also attended On Campus in July, another programme for Māori students who want to attend the University of Otago but not specific to Health Science students. University of Otago also has other programmes for anyone who is interested in attending the uni, such as Hands On at Otago. These opportunities are great for anyone looking at attending University of Otago, providing students with support and confidence for their transition into tertiary study.
- Audrey Anna Robin
Studylink Applications are open - apply by 16 December 2026
If students are studying in 2027 - 16 December 2026 is a very important date.
Students need to apply for their student allowance or loan before 16 December 2026 to give themselves the best chance of having everything ready for the start of their course. We have Studylink coming into school for support sessions in Week 1 and 2 of Term 4.
Application information can be found here:
https://www.studylink.govt.nz/online-services/apply/first-time/index.html
Caroline Johnson, Jess Radich, Deb Verhoeven - Careers Advisers
The Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award
The Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award
Duke of Edinburgh Students Take on Waikaremoana
Last weekend, our Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award Silver and Gold students took on one of the most important challenges of their award journey – spending time outdoors developing the skills, resilience, independence and teamwork that are at the heart of the award.
The Silver students completed their final qualifying adventurous journey around Lake Waikaremoana, bringing them one step closer to completing their Silver award. With three different starting points, the groups faced some seriously challenging days, including 8–10 hours of tramping, significant climbs and demanding sections of track. The journey provided an excellent opportunity for students to put their preparation, navigation, fitness and teamwork into practice.
Meanwhile, our Gold students completed their practice adventurous journey around Lake Waikareiti, building the experience and confidence they will need for their upcoming qualifying journey. They walked alongside the pristine, crystal-clear waters of the lake before heading into dense native bush, where some determined bush-bashing was required!
Both groups were fortunate to experience unusually good weather, with bluebird days and frosty nights providing almost perfect conditions for an outdoor adventure. All students camped and stayed in DOC huts, experiencing the independence and camaraderie that are such an important part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
The adventurous journey is about much more than simply covering the kilometres. Students are required to work together, overcome challenges, take responsibility for themselves and their group, and demonstrate perseverance when things become difficult. These experiences are a wonderful reflection of the wider goals of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award – developing confident, capable and resilient young people through challenge and adventure.
Our students were exceptionally well prepared and brought excellent attitudes to the weekend. They supported each other, embraced the challenges and showed determination throughout. They were a real credit to themselves, their whānau and our school.
Lake Waikaremoana and Lake Waikareiti provided an incredible setting for this stage of their Duke of Edinburgh journey, and our students can be very proud of what they achieved.
Bronze Students – The Final Challenge Ahead
There is plenty happening in the Duke of Edinburgh programme, with our Bronze students now looking ahead to their final adventurous journey in November. The qualifying tramps will take place on either 7–8 November or 21–22 November. Being organised, fit and well prepared will make a huge difference to the experience. The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy your tramp! Students are encouraged to use the upcoming holidays to get out walking, build their fitness and get some kilometres banked. We will also hold a session on packing your tramping pack, so students can learn how to carry what they need without carrying unnecessary weight.
A reminder too for our Year 9 students who are interested in joining the Duke of Edinburgh programme next year – our Information Evening is on Thursday 12 November. This is an important opportunity for students and whānau to find out more about the programme, what is involved and the exciting challenges ahead. With Bronze, Silver and Gold journeys all progressing, there is certainly lots going on in Duke of Ed at NGHS!
Mrs Louise Bassett-Foss - Award Leader
Book Week
Book Week
Last week we celebrated our annual book week. Tuesday oversaw the book title scavenger hunt which would continue for the remainder of the week during lunchtimes. Form classes also took part in a guess-the-book-by-the-emojis quiz, with the winning form class earning a slab cake. On Wednesday, we had the house literacy quiz, with three rounds of book-related questions, Marohi taking the win. Thursday had the much-anticipated Student vs. Staff debate, where the talented teams debated the moot: The House believes AI will replace teachers in 10 years. Ultimately, the negating students took the win. At form time, classes sat down to have discussions of fond memories relating to their favourite childhood books. On Friday, the Year 13 and staff dress-up saw some creative and hilarious costumes come to light, which were really emphasised in our prefects assembly. The goal of this week was to highlight the importance of books in our lives, with a special focus on remembering the books that have raised us. Even non-readers were able to recall a book that had an impact on them, and that’s the importance we aimed to share.
- Tayla Baxter and Sam Formosa
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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