School News

Rural Designs Trip 2026

On Tuesday 26th May,  the Level 1 Primary Industries class went to Rural Design in Kaiwaka to learn about their native plant nursery. Blake Worsfold and Logan Jaques, both ex-students of Otamatea High School, were our principal guides for the tour. We learned about the sustainable vision of the company and the work that goes into producing native plants. Students undertook some tree planting around the purpose built Dam as well as potting up some planting using the potting machine as well as being taken on a tour of the hothouse and shadehouse. We would like to thank Blake, Logan and the rest of the Rural Design team for taking the time to give us an informative and entertaining experience.

Otamatea High School Duke of Edinburgh's Award Centre Gold Recipients

Casey Greig and Olive Ruddenklau received their Gold Awards from Alexander Hillary (Sir Edmund Hillary's grandson) at Government House, Wellington on Saturday 6th June at the morning ceremony.
The ceremony saw 40 young people from around the country receive this prestigious award.
The girls were supported by their family members, Robyn Bruce (Award Leader), Ken Hames (National Board Chair and instructor/shadow party member) and Stephen Orchard (instructor/shadow party member)
The Governor General, Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO was in attendance and addressed the recipients at the conclusion of the presentation. She spoke of how the recipients were amongst the few who managed to attain the Gold Award and to be proud of such an exceptional achievement.
Following are the girls' citations as found in the Ceremony Handbook :

Casey Greig : 
My Duke of Ed was truly a once in a lifetime experience, from exploring new places and learning so many new skills, to making lifelong friendships and memories. The Award gave me a whole sort of new confidence - I feel like I could go and do almost any hike or tramp without any doubt because of the knowledge I have gained. I started my journey feeling nervous and unsure whether I'd be capable but, you know what, I would never change a thing. I'm so thankful I took this opportunity, it was such an amazing experience and I'd do it repeatedly if I could. I would 100% recommend Duke of Ed to anyone that asks me about it, no matter who they are, because I know for a fact they will not regret it.
Olive Ruddenklau :
The Award has deepened my love for the outdoors and helped me build confidence and independence. The volunteering component has been especially meaningful, giving me a strong sense of purpose in looking after our environment through conservation work.

We are all very proud of you both and wish you the best for your future endeavours and adventures.
"Remember that the best view comes after the hardest climb"

Robyn Bruce
Award Leader

Year 12 Sports Leadership Surfing Sessions

Recently, the Year 12 Sports Leadership class took part in 2 surfing sessions at Waipu Cove. The purpose of the trip was to develop an understanding of teaching beginner-level lessons and the skills required to develop skills in an outdoor environment. The waves were fun on both days, and we are very grateful for the excellent coaches, Ellen and Kirsty, at Learn 2 Surf Waipu Cove.

Year 11 Geography Trip - Tiritiri Matangi Island

On Thursday, 25 June, the Year 11 Geography class visited Tiritiri Matangi Island to learn about its wildlife sanctuary and the impact of its predator-free status. Students enjoyed a guided walk along the Wattle Track, observing native birds and wildlife. Highlights included spotting several takahe, kōkako, kererū, tūī, and dozens of stitchbirds (hihi). We are also incredibly grateful to the Growing Minds Fund, which generously covered most of the trip's costs.

2026 Rotorua Tourism Trip

On Monday 22nd June  two van loads of students set off to Rotorua for the annual Rotorua Tourism Trip (this has been going for over 20 years). First stop in Rotorua was the Skyline Gondola and Luge. The weather was great and the views were spectacular over the city and lake. The luge was a great hit with everyone (except Teresa who was scared of the chairlift), although no one was able to match the speed of Mr Troost. That evening we went to the Redwoods Tree Walk and lightshow which was very serene and spectacular. 

Day 2 started with the Agrodome sheep show and 19 different breeds of sheep. The show was a lot of fun and a number of our students got up on stage and displayed their skills. Next stop was a visit to Whakarewarewa – The Living Village where we experienced a guided tour learning the history of the village and seeing the geothermal activity and again, a very entertaining show. To finish the afternoon we went to the Zorb (this stop was a new addition to the normal itinerary and especially requested by the students in the planning stage) and it didn’t disappoint. 

That evening after a ‘choose your own dinner’ in town we had a relaxing wind down at the polynesian spa, soaking in the geothermal pools.

 After checking out of the Rock Solid Backpackers on Wednesday morning, we headed back to Otamatea High School through plenty of rain, thankful that we had had pretty good weather when it mattered.

I’d like to thank the students who displayed a great attitude and enthusiasm throughout the trip and especially Teresa Brown for driving one of the vans and ably assisting to make the trip so enjoyable for all.

Marco Troost

School Ball 2026

The 2026 Otamatea school ball, held on June 20th at The Stables, was an absolutely magical and unforgettable night. Embracing the enchanting theme of "Fairy Tale on the Bayou," the venue was transformed into a whimsical wonderland, featuring gorgeous decorations styled by Aya and Chanelle. The space was alive with a sea of deep greens, crisp whites, and twinkling fairy lights that perfectly captured the swamp-chic romance of the bayou. Everyone in attendance looked absolutely stunning, with students fully embracing the theme in their formal attire.
The evening was filled with awesome music, high energy, and the celebration of this year's well-deserved prize winners:

The 2026 Royalty Court
Year 11: Sam Bond (Beau) & Eden Sheppard (Belle)
Year 12: Paikea Littlejohn (Prince) & Harper Dowson (Princess)
Year 13: Allistar Martin (King) & Jorja Naylor (Queen)
Special Awards
Best Dressed: Natassja Sym
Cutest Couple: Behr Holland & Lily Adolph
Besties: Summer Gibbons & Alysha Edlin
Bromance: Avarn Ajodani & Kacy Gillion
Life of the Party: Cassandra Foy
Best Smile: Koaria Bristow

A massive thank you goes out to the dedicated ball committee for their flawless organization and hard work in putting together a spectacular night that the Otamatea 2026 students will cherish for years to come!

Level 2 Sport Science class

The Level 2 Sport Science class conducted two practical Waka Ama trips to the Mangawhai Estuary on April 28th and May 12th, 2026.

These trips served as the practical foundation for Physical Education Achievement Standard 2.7 (91333), which tasks students with analysing the application of risk management strategies to a challenging outdoor activity. The first day was initially challenging with cool weather conditions. However, the second trip was a beautiful day. Lucky because that was the day we huli'd (flipped). It made the bread and chips afterwards all the more enjoyable.

Avarn Ajodani

In June, Avarn Ajodani competed in his first kicking boxing event. Held in Orewa, called Battle of the Coast. Avarn won his match by unanimous decision.
A huge Congratulations Avarn. Great supporters Kacy and Seth.

Year 8 Student Wins Paparoa Lions Club Speech Competition

Congratulations to Aaliyah Mackenzie on her outstanding success in the annual Paparoa Lions Club Speech Competition.
Representing our kura on Monday evening, Aaliyah delivered a thoughtful and persuasive speech exploring the relationship between New Zealand’s public health system and individual responsibility. She argued that while a strong public health system plays a vital role in keeping communities healthy, it must work in partnership with individuals making positive choices about their own health and wellbeing.
Aaliyah’s confidence, preparation, and ability to present a balanced and well-reasoned argument impressed both the judges and audience. Her speech demonstrated maturity, critical thinking, and a strong understanding of an important issue facing our society.
Competing against students from across the district, Aaliyah was awarded first place, an achievement that reflects her dedication and excellent public speaking skills.
We are incredibly proud of Aaliyah for representing our kura with such professionalism and poise. Congratulations on this well-deserved success!

NZSS CHAMPION & NZ REPRESENTATIVE!  

Huge congratulations to Denika Clooney on winning the New Zealand Secondary Schools (NZSS) Cross Country Championship!   
Not only did she take out the top spot, but she has also been selected to represent New Zealand. This is an incredible achievement, and the entire Otamatea High School community is immensely proud of your hard work, dedication, and phenomenal success, Denika.

SmokeFree Rockquest

Congratulations to Oscar and Intersection (Sophie, Lienair, Asher), who performed at SmokeFree Rockquest over the weekend.
Both acts performed original songs at the show as part of the Northland Regional Final.
Well done to Oscar, who won the APRA Best Original Lyrics award!