School News

DOE Gold tramp - Last one for Robyn Bruce

On Tuesday December 9th 2025, a Gold DOE group flew to Queenstown, bused to Makarora and took a helicopter to Jumboland in the Wilkin Valley. We hiked to Top Forks Hut where we were based for the next two days exploring the area.
Wednesday 10th: This saw the group take daypacks to hike to Lake Castalia,Lucidus, Diana and the disappearing tarn. We saw and heard avalanches high up in the glacial mountains of the valley. Several brave people swam in the chilly, glacial blue waters of Lake Castalia. We had an adventurous "off track": experience on the return to the hut...an unforgettable, amazing day!
Thursday 11th: This saw half the group head towards the Waterfall Face of Rabbit Pass while the other half  explored  the immediate area around the hut.The group came together at midday and enjoyed cooling off in the Wilkin River, playing cards and resting.
Friday 12th: This saw the gold qualifier begin!
The group woke up to a light frost and fresh snow on the mountains. We spent much of the morning navigating our way down the Wilkin River, as this was low and the easiest option. The valley opened up as we headed down it and by late afternoon the Kerin Forks Hut (340m) was reached. Bunks were secured and a river swim was enjoyed by all. Communal dinners were cooked, five crowns played and a group debrief . Everyone could not wait to get into their sleeping bags as the day had been long.
Saturday 13th:  The group was up early and a suitable place was found to cross the now wide Wilkin River, down where the jet boat comes in.The sun crept over the mountains filling the valley with warmth. The river was flowing calmly and the early morning light made this departure from the hut very memorable.
The group hiked up the well benched (but gradual gradient) of the track to enter the Siberia Valley with Mt Awful dominating the skyline in the distance. It was majestic scenery. We followed the track beside the Siberia River and  were at the Siberia Hut (630m) in no time. Bunks were claimed and daypacks sorted for the afternoon excursion to Lake Crucible. This was an endurance test for all with the continual elevation being gained around some gnarly tree roots. Lunch was enjoyed beside the Crucible Stream and the final "push" to the Lake began through beautiful flora and fauna with the moraine wall up to the lake, the last obstacle. The cirque lake was covered in ice which enticed the group to have a refreshing dip in the icy waters as it was such a hot day. Photos taken, snacks eaten and the group headed back down to Siberia Hut for the night.
Saturday 14th: This was to be one of the hardest days with the gradual climb up to Gillespie Pass (1600m). The weather and views were stunning and there was a lot of snow on the pass. The usual snowballs were thrown and lunch was enjoyed at the top. Denika made a snowman providing lots of photo opportunities. The wind got up as we crossed into the Young Valley and the descent was slow and arduous. Once down in the valley the Young River was followed to its namesake hut.
Sunday 15th: The wet weather that had been predicted arrived overnight bringing steady rain. The group departed the hut early knowing that this was going to be the longest day due to needing to avoid the Makarora River crossing adding 16km to the already 14km day. As luck would have it at the Young River mouth, Mrs Baker had one bar of reception so she could contact the Wilkin jet boat company who said they'd send a jetboat to pick us up. The group was elated...what a way to finish an amazing seven days of adventure!
Hot showers and very filling Makarora burgers were enjoyed along with a thorough debrief of the qualifier.

Thank you very much to our wonderful shadow party, James Andrews, Sheryl Cullen and Robyn Baker. This tramp couldn't have happened without your help
Thank you to our School, Maungaturoto Rotarians, Maungaturoto Opportunity shop and the wider communities for supporting and allowing us to be able to fundraise to keep costs to a minimum.

This was my last adventurous journey for the school's DOE Hillary Award . What a way to finish...an amazing gold group and shadow party...six days of fine weather....and after a year and abit of fundraising....the most amazing way to get on and off the tracks allowing us full days of adventure! I will admit, my eyes filled with tears as I dropped my last student off at 10pm on the 16th. I've had twenty years  as  Award leader and during that time have had so many amazing adventures with amazing young people and shadow parties.

Always remember " the best view comes after the hardest climb"
Robyn Bruce
DOE Award Leader

Staying Safe and Having Fun: Year 8s Tackle Water Skills for Life!

Our Year 8 students recently traded the classroom for the coastline, heading to Waipu Cove for an action-packed day of the Water Skills for Life - Beach programme. Delivered by expert instructors from Surf Life Saving New Zealand, this funded initiative gave our students the chance to build essential safety skills in a real-world beach setting

Learning Through Play
The day was a perfect mix of theory and "theory through play". Our students didn't just sit and listen; they were active participants in:

Practical Skills: Engaging in beach and water activities designed to make them "beach safe" and "water safe".

Identifying Hazards: Learning how to spot and escape dangerous rip currents.

Critical Thinking: Using their smarts to understand life-saving knowledge while having a blast in the sun.

Expert Guidance
We were in the best possible hands. The course was led by fully qualified Surf Lifeguards who are also trained in safeguarding children, ensuring that while the students were challenged, they were always in a controlled and safe environment.

 Why It Matters
This programme is a targeted intervention specifically designed to adapt the skills learned in pool-based sessions to the unpredictable nature of the ocean. By connecting with a local spot like Waipu Cove, our tauira (students) gained knowledge they can take back to their families and use every time they visit the beach.

Everyone walked away with a little more confidence, a lot more knowledge, and plenty of great memories. A huge thank you to Water Safety New Zealand and SLSNZ for making this funded opportunity possible for our kura! 

Moving on Day

Moving on Day is a dedicated day for Year 13’s to explore options for next year. In the morning they attended a workshop about the rights and responsibilities of young workers presented by Nicola Paul from the Young Workers Resource Centre. 

Presentations from different universities, one about trades and one about financial knowledge were options of sessions students attended.

Then in the afternoon students met with members of the community who talked to them about their careers. There was a youth worker, a nurse, a physiotherapist and the recruitment officer from the armed forces in Northland. Other people represented NIWA, ACC, Projectus, Hubands, New World and many more

Relay for Life

Year 13s Smash School Record at Relay for Life!
On Saturday the 20th, 44 of our Year 13 students and several staff members proudly participated in the Relay for Life at Trigg Stadium in Whangārei. Driven by the leadership of our 2026 Prefects, the team raised an incredible $23,599 for the Northland Cancer Society—the highest amount our school has ever raised! All the hard work of fundraising leading up to the event, finally paid off, and the fun began!

The 12-hour event ran from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm on a beautifully hot and sunny day. Our students kept the baton moving the entire time, with some phenomenal individuals running over 60km over the course of the day.

Event Highlights:

Outstanding Conduct: The Year 13s represented our school exceptionally well. A highlight was seeing our students interact positively with the public and other schools during fun activities like the tug-of-war and the dress-up relay. When feet were sore and faces sunburnt, they keep the enthusiasm and encouragement up of each other. 
Top Fundraiser: A massive congratulations to Koaria Bristow, who was our top individual fundraiser, bringing in an amazing $1,430!
A Touching Tribute: As the sun went down, students took part in the emotional candlelight ceremony to honor loved ones who have passed away from cancer. The way our students looked after and supported one another during this moving tribute was truly special. 
As a staff and a school, we are incredibly proud of the massive effort and dedication shown by the Year 13 cohort. They have raised vital funds and awareness for the Cancer Society while creating memories they will never forget. Well done to everyone involved!

Waiora Te Ukaipo The Homeland

We took a group of students down to the ASB Waterfront Theatre to watch an empowering play called Waiora Te Ukaipo The Homeland. It was truly a powerful and emotional play. 

NORTHLAND SECONDARY SCHOOL’S ATHLETICS 2026

Otamatea took 15 students to the Northland event on Friday 6th March. The day was perfect with a gentle breeze and slightly overcast.The students were wonderful and gave everything their best.
Results
Junior Boys
Joel Oliver - 1st 100m (time 12.26s), 1st 200m (time 25.69s), 6th Long Jump 4.45m
Manu Martin - 3rd Discus 20.80, 4th Shot Put 8.35m, 7th 800m 2.50.52m
Intermediate Boys
Dakota Jamieson - 1st Long Jump 5.71m, 2nd 100m 12.92s, 3rd 200m 25.72s
Levi Kaye - 1st High Jump 1.65m, 6th 100m 13.71s, 4th 200m 26.26s
Harry Wood - 3rd High Jump 1.55m, 3rd Discus 24.03m
Leyton Greig - 1st 400m 1.00.11m, 3rd 800m 2.20.89m
Intermediate Girls
Willow Joyce - 3rd High Jump 1.30m, 5th 100m 14.51s
Senior Boys
Kacy Gillon - 2nd 400m - 1.00.46m,4th 800m 2.30.12m
Allistair Martin - 2nd Sho Put 12.16m, 2nd Discus 21.72m
Jade Reynolds - 3rd 400m 1.02.75m, 7th 100m 12.94s, 7th Long Jump 5.16m
Avarn Ajodani - 4th 400m 1.02.87m, 6th 800m 2.43.17m, 7th 200m 26.21s
Alfie Lake - 4th High Jump 1.50m
Senior Girls
Jade Ferrari - 3rd Discus 18.30m, 4th Shot Put 8.05m

Duke Of Edinburgh's Hillary Award Ceremony

On Saturday 28th March , King's College Auckland , hosted a gold Duke Of Edinburgh's Hillary Award Ceremony where 106 Awardees were presented their Gold Award by Sarah Hillary.
Otamatea High School Award Centre had seven awardees in attendance which was notably the highest number out of the Secondary schools represented  at the ceremony. Our Young People were supported by their very proud parents/caregivers, Mr Malcolm, Robyn Bruce, shadow party members, Ken Hames and Sharlene McCormick. 
Following are the citations from our awardees :
Liana Cullen : The Award was an awesome experience, providing amazing outdoor opportunities and training but also challenging at times, growing leadership,discipline and perseverance.
Alyssa Flannagan : I have never been super into hiking until I started my Duke Of Edinburgh journey. My love of the outdoors grew profusely since I started and now I couldn't imagine my life without it. Even after completing my Awards I still go on hikes and explore the outdoors as much as I can. Who knew that a High School hiking programme would turn into something that is now such a huge part of my life.
Robin Gillespie : The Award had a huge impact on me.It pushed me out of my comfort zone and showed me that I'm capable of far more than I thought,especially during the expedition where perseverance really mattered. Volunteering helped me become more confident around new people and made me feel connected to my community in a meaningful way. Overall the Award taught me resilience, independence and how rewarding it is to commit to something long-term.
Egor Shefer : I gained knowledge of the outdoors and how to survive in them. I strengthened the bond between my classmates and gained a little confidence with leadership. It's also been great helping out my school's P.E. department under community service and having a long term commitment. I am now longing for more hikes with friends, which is unfortunately impossible at the current time, but maybe in afew months or years.
Callum Smith : I enjoyed a lot of activities I undertook, and I was glad to be of service to my school and local community. Some aspects, particularly the residential, were very challenging and took me a way out of my comfort zone. I met my girlfriend due to DOE so that is good and it made me fitter which is nice.
Aaron Texeira : I discovered my love for the outdoors and found that committing to a long-term goal has helped me with my ability to start big things. I found that even when I feel like giving up, when I keep pushing on, the reward is well worth it.
Jaime Warrington-Grace : The Award impacted my life in many different ways- it helped me learn about the beautiful world around us, how important it is for our survival and how it benefits our wellbeing. When we're out in forests and mountains or hiking alongside flowing streams, everything changes; life becomes so much more simplistic. I've grown a lot thanks to the Award.

We are very proud of these AMAZING Gold Award holders and wish them all the best for their futures.
Remember...."The best view comes after the hardest climb."

 

 

For further details click the link below

https://www.otamatea.school.nz/extra-curricular-activities/william-pike-challenge