Welcome Ning Li

Kahutara School has a new teacher. Ning Li is an English speaking graduate of Xiamen University in Southern China. She will spend the 2014 school year at Kahutara introducing and teaching the basics the Mandarin language to the students.

Ning is one of twenty one graduates from the university who will be teaching at schools throughout New Zealand. The costs of bringing the group to New Zealand and their wages while are here are paid by the Chinese Government with the arrangements for their New Zealand placements being made by the Victoria University’s Confucius Institute. … Continue Reading

Know your town

Secrets of the caves
This month’s Know your town consists of two early newspaper reports of the caves south of Martinborough. The first: Wairarapa Standard 2nd February 1891 headed: ‘Boys find caves at Ruakakapatuna’William Harris and his cousins, Deadmans, find caves while sowing grass seed after a burn off of bush at the back of the Harris Block. … Continue Reading

It’s Round the Vines time again

Time to remind our readers that Sunday 16th is Around the Vines day again . While there’s obviously little need to once again go over the details of the event for you, we could suggest that you think about using the fun to invite friends or relatives to come and enjoy the day with you. Or even make a weekend of it. There is plenty of excellent accommodation available if required. … Continue Reading

IN PRAISE OF BOREDOM

‘This is boring!’ The standard battle cry of the restless teenager. My classroom response is ‘No, you’re just bored. The difference is subtle, but important. Should I explain it?’ … Continue Reading