Did you know

“AS A CHILD I didn’t believe in Father Christmas, but I pretended to because I thought my parents did” – Peter Ustinov

COOK STRAIT inter island Ferries  carry 1.2 million passengers and seven million tonnes of freight between the islands each year 

LAST YEAR Russia supplied 52 countries globally with US$45 billion worth of arms, making it the world’s second-biggest arms supplier – behind the US.

NZers DISCARD 526 million plastic water bottles a year.

‘IT’S NOT the Irish Border, it’s the British Border in Ireland. The Irish Border is the beach’ Andrew Maxwell

CURRENTLY there are over 20,000 sheep being milked in NZ with the number growing quickly especially in the Waikato and Southland. The milk is processed to powder for export of into cheese while the Southland factory also produces sheep milk baby formula. … Continue Reading

Fire Brigade service recognised

This month has seen us honouring the service given by our members as volunteers helping our community. and the promotion of our Station Officer Jake Hawkins to Deputy Chief Fire Officer of the Brigade.

A very special Honours Awards Evening was held in early November, firstly to acknowledge the service given by members, 3 year Service Certificates to John Mansell (the Brigade Secretary and Matt McQuaid, 5 Year Medals to Zoe Sinclair, Callam Tannant and additional 2 year bars to recognise Andy Stuart, Wayne Thomas and Gary Jackson.

After our dinner we then moved on to the most special part of our awards night, the Gold Star Medal presentation to SO Peter Fisher recognising over 25 years of Service to  Fire and Emergency (formerly the NZ Fire Service) and our Community. Pete started his service in Porirua and was actually a Fire Service “Brat” as the children of Firefighters were called back then. Following in the footsteps of both his Grandfather and Father, Pete joined Porirua Volunteer Brigade before he transferred to Martinborough, where he has remained ever since.  … Continue Reading

A ball in a tree

What at first had seemed to be

A football nesting in a tree

Was actually (or so I’ve heard)

An egg of the Giant Soccerbird.

BY JOHN ANSELL

Five years of excellence rewarded at Kuranui prizegiving.

At this year’s Kuranui Senior Prizegiving seventy Year Thirteen students were presented with certificates for their five years of study.  

Guest speaker, former pupil Andrew Slater, spoke of his experiences in re-organising the New Zealand Ambulance services, working in Silicon Valley and currently setting up a twenty four hour health help line. He assured that it was “okay to be a nerd”, as he had been. He advised them not to bury themselves in work but to always enjoy some recreation and to remember that they were never alone, there are always mentors who they could and should use. 

Harvey Morison was named the Kuranui College 2018 Dux. Harvey gained level 3 NCEA with excellence (over 90%) in year 12 earning a $6,000 university scholarship and in 2018 he has also achieved A grades in Philosophy and Greek Mythology, while continuing to study at school and prepare for scholarship examination papers in technology, physics and calculus. In his spare time he gained his pilot’s licence. He has also been an exemplary peer support leader and student leader, was MVP for the 1st XV rugby team and represented Wairarapa-Bush U18s.

Piper Marshall and Alexander Southey shared the honour of Proxime Accessit. Piper has also gained NCEA levels 1, 2, and 3 with excellence, with five subject endorsements last year. Piper, a School Leader, is known for her mature, committed approach to life inside and outside the classroom and has worked tirelessly to become an excellence student. She captained the college’s successful football First Eleven and named as team MVP.  She has a passion for science and equestrian.

  Alexander, known as AJ, has attained NCEA levels 1, 2, and 3 with excellence. He has a prodigious memory and intellect, which is particularly evident in his writing, his performance and thriving creativity. He was awarded the Tocker Cup, presented to the student who has made the most outstanding contribution to the wider life of the college, excelling in his contribution to the performing arts in particular. He was the key person in producing and acting in the Kuranui entry which won the prestigious  Show Quest held at the Wellington Opera House … Continue Reading