School News

Week Two saw the HBHS and HGHS combined Kapa Haka team travel to Whangarei to compete in the annual national competition.  The competition is open to English, mixed and Maori medium schools and competition for a high placing is fierce.  Henare Moroiti (Year 9) explained what it was like to be involved in something this intensive:

What were the highlights for you as a first-time participant in Kapa Haka Nationals?

We came twenty-second out of forty-three, which is a strong showing for an English-medium school.  The hospitality of the people in Whangarei was good.  Our tutors, Whaea Barton and Matua West all came up to look after us.  We practiced every weekend for a number of weeks to get ready for the competitions, and got to know each other really well.  The set was thirty minutes long, so there was a lot to learn and remember. 

Kapa Haka is a good way to keep up with people - mates, cousins, people that you know from school.  I didn't know any of the girls from Girls' High before.  I will keep doing Kapa Haka next year, and study Maori.  I'm playing rugby as well, so it's good.

Kelston Boys' High School Samoan Performance Group and Unison Dance Crew gave joyous, energetic  performances during lunchtime today in the school hall.  KBHS Guidance counsellor George Fruean commented on the event:

Could you explain to us who these boys are and what they aim to do?

This is Kelston Boys' High School Samoan Performance Group for the 2011 Polyfest competition in Manukau next week.  This venture is to bring the boys some live performance experience, and there's also a lot of good will involved here too.  Some of these boys have never performed in front of a live audience before.  We've just finished at Melville High, [HBHS] is the second performance today and tonight at Church College the boys will do the same thing again.  Next week on Friday, when we are competing in the Polyfest competition the boys will be sharp, and there won't be any stage fright in them.

Steve Hansen has named a slew of youngsters in his All Blacks training squad for the June test matches against Ireland.  The 35-man squad includes HBHS Old Boy Tawera Kerr-Barlow in the backs.  Kerr -Barlow was the youngest player to be signed to a Super 14 Rugby franchise when he was acquired by Waikato Rugby Union at the age of 17.  He boarded at Argyle House while studying at HBHS and enjoyed a stellar school boy rugby career.

A member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools team, as well as the national schools sevens side and New Zealand Under 17, Kerr-Barlow was also part of the Waikato union's pre-academy programme, followed by the WRU High Performance Academy. 

Kerr-Barlow has strong family connections with the sport, including former Waikato All Blacks Steve and Rob Gordon, as well as being nephew of former Waikato, Warrington and NZ Maori league rep, Tukere Barlow.  His mother Gail Barlow, played half-back for the Australia women's team in 1995 and 1996.  One of the reasons Kerr-Barlow stayed in New Zealand was that he has always been excited about the All Black jersey and the possibility of wearing it one day.

We congratulate Tawera on his superb achievement and look forward to seeing him go from strength to strength.

This morning, as our school year officially begins, the HBHS staff and Year 13 students welcomed over 500 newly minted Year 9 students, some of whom are pictured at right, along with new students at all other levels and recently appointed staff members.  These newest members of our HBHS family were formally welcomed in a traditional powhiri which acknowledged their importance in the continued success of HBHS, along with the efforts of those who have gone before them.  Headmaster Mrs Susan Hassall thanked the students for choosing this school and exhorted the students to make the most of all of the opportunities they will receive.  Finally, the Year 13 students greeted the Year 9 group, as previous years had done for them, with the rousing school haka, which the Year 9 students were then taught as part of the afternoon’s activities.  The day concluded with a range of sports and games. (cont)

E ai ki te whakatauki rongonui e pa ana ki nga mahi haka, 'E haka i te haka a Tane-Rore, e tu te tu o Tane-Rore'.

According to the well known proverb pertaining to the art of haka, 'Adopt the stance and essence of Tane-Rore the God of haka'.

On Saturday 1^st June 2013, Hamilton Boys’ High School, in association with the Tainui Teacher’s Association, will be hosting the Tainui Secondary Schools Regional Kapa Haka Competitions. The competition will consist of 30 secondary schools in the Tainui area with an approximate total of 1500 students participating as spectators, workers and performers.

The primary objective is to celebrate and encourage excellence in Te Reo Maori, the Maori Language and Maori Performing Arts in the spirit of whakawhanaungatanga, nurturing and maintaining positive relationships and networks and healthy competition.

Of particular note is the highly anticipated performance of Nga Taiatea Wharekura who won the last regional competition and who are the current national champions. Ten teams will be battling for the opportunity to represent Tainui at the next biennial national competition to be held in Gisborne in 2014. The top three teams will qualify for this honour.

Chairperson of the Organising Committee¸ Matua Toti West, is proud to be part of the team hosting this event. “Hamilton Boys’ High School has heightened its commitment to uplifting mana Maori in recent years. It is an honour to be afforded the privilege of hosting this event and to further our commitment to ensuring the positive well being of Maori, not only in the school itself, but the wider community of Tainui waka”.  (Article cont.)

Levi Elliot (Year 11) left New Zealand today to take part in the annual Softball Australia Friendship Series in Blacktown, Sydney.  This is the first time a player from the Waikato has reached this level of competition in softball.  The team will play at the venue which hosted the 2000 Olympic competition, and is using this competition to prepare for the Junior Men’s World Championship in 2012, to be held in Argentina.