Westlake Girls’ High School

Fantastic results for Te Rerenga Wāna

As the only North Shore school represented at ASB Polyfest 2022, the mana and passion of our students shone especially bright this year.

There were 18 teams competing. However that number would normally be 60+ schools on the Māori stage, over several different divisions. This year all schools competed in one pool, meaning our WGHS kapa haka group, Te Rerenga Wāna, was up against some stiff competition from schools in higher divisions.

Our students recorded fantastic results, including first in Haka Taparahi, and ninth overall out of 18 teams.

Full results were:

Te Rerenga Wāna.

Non-Aggregate Awards section

Manukura Wahine - Best leaders: 4th Kākahu Wahine - Best dressed: 5th

Bella (standing) and Caitlin (kneeling) at the dress rehearsal. Competition Awards section

Haka Taparahi - Ladies haka: 1st Waiata-ā-ringa - Action song: 5th Poi: 8th Mōteatea - Lament: 9th Whakawātea - Exit: 9th Whakaeke - Entrance: 11th

Final overall position: ninth

"The thing I am most proud of is how the group managed to produce such a polished bracket under a pressured time frame, Covid conditions and the relative inexperience of the students," says Matua Eddie Hudson.

Te Rerenga Wāna was under the guidance of new tutors Lyric Wihoete, Renee Lawrence Rudolf, Maddison Gerbes and Tirakahurangi Leef, with guitarist Sarah Tahere. "They themselves were new to this role, and their impressive combined talents of original song writing, singing and choreography, allowed our students to experience a successful campaign."

Eddie says there was uncertainty as to whether Westlake would enter a group at Polyfest because of Covid and concerns that the young group (there were no Year 13s) would be able to produce a bracket worthy of Polyfest. "However, our tutors saw this as a challenge rather than a barrier and put together a bracket that expressed mana wāhine - power of the women - through the expressive words and actions of the items from the whakaeke (entry) right to the whakawātea (exit). "Seven weeks later with numerous Sunday, school week and lunchtime practices (student directed), Te Rerenga Wāna produced a performance we would all be proud of. To our Kaitātaki wahine Bella Allan-Moetaua and Caitlin Jenkins and the rōpū, congratulations on representing Te Kura Taitamawāhine o Ururoto with distinction at the ASB Polyfest for 2022."

Bella and Caitlin, both Year 12, were Kaitātaki Wahine for Te Rerenga Wāna 2022. "Being a Kaitātaki Wahine is a huge job within the rōpū," says Bella. "Not only were we helping the girls catch up on actions, and taking lunchtime practice, it's also about being there for the girls in as many ways as you can. This meant we were there for them mentally and physically, making sure that they were all okay in terms of school work!"

Close friends, Bella and Caitlin said it was an honour and privilege to share the honour and stand side-by-side on stage together.

They said the group practised every lunchtime, as well as after school on Mondays and Fridays until 6.30pm. "It was timeconsuming and tough, but we all pulled together and it was well worth it," says Caitlin.

Caitlin has been part of the Westlake Girls kapa haka team since she was in Year 9 in 2019. Bella joined when she started at Westlake in Year 10. "I was so afraid to join as I was mostly scared of the boys, but I went to a couple of practices and decided to put my heart and soul into it - and that's what I did."

Bella and Caitlin agree that the most challenging part of the competition this year was the Covid restrictions such as not singing inside, standing two metres apart and having students away through isolation. "The best part would 100% have to be the performance," says Bella. "As a kaitātaki this year it was a completely different experience! Everything was different – from what we wore, what we led within our bracket, to being interviewed live on Māori Television." Caitlin agrees. "It was a cool experience being a kaitātaki - having different hair styles, feathers, and leading items in the bracket. I loved being on stage representing 'Tu mai Mana Wahine' and Westlake Girls High School."

Performing without an audience was a new experience, but it just added a different dimension to the performance. "I personally enjoyed it," says Bella. "I felt I had a deeper connection with the judges and the rōpū. You were able to see the judges' reactions to each item, which I liked because it gave me more and more confidence as the bracket went on. Without having an audience my focus was really brought back to the rōpū."

The experience has changed both performers. "I feel like I've matured as a person and have become more confident within myself and who I am," says Caitlin. "Being a leader this year really helped as I knew I would have to pull my weight, and push myself and the group so that we could perform to our highest standard possible."

Bella agrees. "I have become more confident within myself. When I say confident I mean in a way where, if I mess up I can still be confident in that mistake. I wasn't embarrassed about things I couldn't control, and I know now that if I put in the effort, I can do well."

The kapa haka were: Bella Allan-Moetaua, Riley Ataria, MariLyn Connelly, Isabella Drummond, Tuini Hawke, Kaianne Henare, Raquel Hunt, Harmony Huston, Parmida Jafarian, Caitlin Jenkins, Moana Kaire, Kiera Miller, Amelia Moke, Riley Pasese, Anahera Petera, Issy Rhodes, Kiara Ruka, Anahera Smith, Vydella Tamihana, Selena Toia, Saascha Wharerau Young, and Karscha Wichman Wallace.

Reserves were Olivia Retimana, Makayla Tonkin and Sadie Hobson.

Talented player heading to Jordan with U17 basketball team

Congratulations to Year 11 student Amy Pateman who has been selected for the U17 Women's National Basketball Team. In June, Amy will travel with the team to Jordan to compete in the U16 FIBA Asia Cup Tournament.

Amy, who mainly plays point guard, joined the squad for a national preparation camp from 18th-20th April. "My selection for the team was the result of a long journey," says Amy. "It started with playing Harbour basketball right from U11 to now – U17. I have competed at many regionals and nationals with Harbour. From my first nationals with the club, I was selected into my first national selection camp in 2020 for U15, when I was 14. Players from all over New Zealand are selected for these camps, which train us to compete overseas, but because of Covid no one has been able to travel. I was also part of the U16 camp and finally now – as a result of the U17 camp – I'll be able to travel and compete with the U17 team, which is awesome."

Amy prepared well for selection, undertaking individual and group training. "I knew if I wanted to be good enough that I needed to put in the extra work," she says. That extra effort paid dividends when she found out via email of her selection – while she was isolating away from her family due to Covid! "I was super shocked,"

she says. "But I was also excited and thankful that the hard work I'd been putting into basketball actually paid off." This won't be the talented teen's first time representing New Zealand. "In 2019, when I was 13, I travelled to Australia to compete in one of their tournaments, and I was also selected for the New Zealand U15 Skills Challenge Team last year. The next step for Amy was to attend the training camp from 18-20 April in Amy Pateman. preparation for her trip to Jordan in June. "I'll also be continuing to train in my own time so I am fully prepared," she says. "I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and thankful that I get to travel and compete against the best teams from other countries. I'm proud to represent my country, and looking forward to developing more as a player." Amy's goal after high school – where she currently plays for our Premier Basketball Team – is to secure a basketball scholarship to a university in the United States. "I'm not sure what my future holds, but I've promised myself I will take every opportunity I'm given with gratitude and determination." All the very best Amy – WGHS is very proud of you and looking forward to hearing about your future successes.

Head Prefect selected as Youth MP

Westlake Girls High School Head Prefect, Ivy Mitchell, has been selected as the North Shore Youth MP for Simon Watts. This is a sought-after and prestigious position which will give Ivy hands-on experience in the world of politics. Here she talks about how the opportunity came about, and what she hopes to achieve out of it.

"From the 30-year-old biscuit tin where bills are drawn, to debating topical issues that have an impact on our community, Parliament and politics is something I am very excited to be a part of this year as the North Shore Youth MP for Simon Watts. "Especially during my high school years, I have been interested in politics and in particular the concerns and wellbeing of the rangatahi around me. Being involved in civic groups such as Amnesty International and public speaking through debating teams, I thought that finishing off high school as the local Youth MP was an opportunity that I couldn’t miss. So, towards the end of last year, I sent a short video to the North Shore MP Simon Watts explaining why I wanted to be chosen as his Youth MP. After an interview, I was extremely thrilled to receive a phone call from Simon late last year letting me know I was the successful candidate!

"I am particularly excited to be in a position of voice for the youth on the Shore, to further immerse myself in the North Shore community and to head down to Parliament later on in the year. In July, I and the other Youth MPs from across the country will gather in Parliament to debate the ‘Starting-out Wage Abolition’ mock Amendment Ivy Mitchell with North Shore MP Simon Watts. Bill that was recently drawn in a ballot over Zoom supervised by the Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard. Youth Parliament takes place every three years and is designed to give rangatahi insight into democracies and opportunities to have meaningful engagement with politics. "As well as having the opportunity to debate in the debating chamber, the Youth MP role has also put me in a unique position to have a voice in the local community. As well as having opportunities to engage in local events in the community, I am also very excited to be working on a youth mental health forum with Simon planned for later on in the year. Keep an eye out for some updates! "In the future, I will continue to explore my love of politics, as I am hoping to study political communications and potentially become a diplomat. I am very lucky that I am already able to have the opportunity to launch myself in the world of politics, as the North Shore Youth MP."