Otaki Scholars

The tour of our 79th and 80th Otaki Scholars, Anish Subramaniam and Matthew Cranfield, commenced on Sunday 16 July.  Both Anish and Matthew have said that their time in Ōtaki has been absolutely outstanding and both young men have been overwhelmed by the openness and friendliness of everyone to date.  My sincere thanks to Rupene Waaka and Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki for the organisation of yet another very memorable pōwhiri to open the tour in Ōtaki and Aotearoa New Zealand.  A highlight of the Scholars’ trip was their overnight stay on Kāpiti Island where they were able to encounter a kiwi on their kiwi spotting expedition.  Once again the College would like to thank John Barrett and Kāpiti Island Nature Tours for sponsoring the Scholars and two senior students on this trip.  Another enjoyable part of their time on the Kāpiti Coast was an afternoon tea with our Mayor, Janet Holborow.  Both young men felt very honoured by this occasion.  They departed on Sunday 23 July for Otago Boys’ High School and over the next five weeks will visit St Andrew’s College, Marlborough Boys’ College, Scots College, Whanganui Collegiate, Napier Boys’ High School, Rotorua Boys’ High School, finishing with St Kentigern College in Auckland.

Thank you again to the Ōtaki Community who continue to embrace the Otaki Scholar tradition.  In Week Five we will commence the selection process for our Everiss Scholar who will depart for Scotland in January 2024.