On Tuesday 2 July we welcomed our new Headmaster Mr Mason Summerfield. Mr Summerfield will be leaving Rathkeale College in Masterton and will join us officially on Day 1 of Term 3.

Ākina, ho!

Kawea atu te mana o te Huia - Huia, Huia, Huia rautia e Ho!!

We are delighted to announce Mr Mason Summerfield as our new Headmaster for Hastings Boys’ High School. Today is a day that would mark the new era of Hastings Boys’ High School as we welcome Mr Mason Summerfield into our Ākina Whānau. It is a privilege and an honour to have witnessed the connection our school had with Rathkeale College and St Matthew's College, and the excitement our kura feels about this new chapter in our schools' history books. Our school is well known for having strong traditions, but it is also well known for its achievements in sports, culture and leadership - so we are really keen to embrace the fresh perspectives and innovations that await us here at Hastings Boys’. We, the prefect group and students look forward to working alongside Mr Summerfield to continue building on our legacy, achieving new milestones and establishing connections with his previous schools. We are ready to engage, to learn, to stand side by side and grow under his leadership.

Ākina! We came together, united under the fabric of our very own tohu, the Huia that sits firmly on our chest and we welcomed Mr Summerfield the Ākina way! Reflecting on this journey that has brought us to this point, we must acknowledge Mr Quentin Crawford for keeping us grounded in our Ākina Values, upholding the mana of our beloved Mr R. G. Sturch - Four feathers to the sky!!!! We reflect on the hard work and dedication of everyone: teachers, students, whānau and the Board who have brought us together for one kaupapa - Ākina tukua!

Mr Summerfield, your reputation precedes you, and we are elevated knowing that under your leadership, Hastings Boys’ High School will continue to thrive. Your experience, passion, and commitment to education will undoubtedly inspire us all to reach greater heights - Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi. We are excited to see what this new chapter will present.

To my brothers, the students of Hastings Boys’, this is an incredible opportunity for all of us to partake in. Together, we will navigate this new ground with mana, aroha, determination and whakawhānaungatanga.

We extend our warmest welcome to Mr. Mason Summerfield and look forward to the bright future ahead under your stewardship. Whakarongo mai ki te tangi a te manu Huia e tau nei!

Head Boy of Hastings Boys’ High School, Osiris White Munro

In his time at Rathkeale, Mr Mason Summerfield was involved in a wide range of activities, all while maintaining his role as Deputy Principal. From the 1st XI cricket, the 1st XV rugby, and year 13 Agriculture, Mr Summerfield made his presence felt. You would always find him walking the school grounds during breaks, coffee in hand, ready to chat with anyone and everyone. I have always cherished this as a student: Mr. Summerfield’s willingness to build connections with as many people as possible, his warm presence and friendly demeanor always leaving people with a smile on their faces. While happy and excited for him to be taking up his role at Hastings Boys', it did feel like we, as a school, had lost something significant—a vital part of the Rathkeale community. We will miss Mr Summerfield dearly. Yet, it did fill me with joy to see the respect, mana, and aura that Hastings Boys' has. How he was welcomed into the role was nothing short of royal. It was a compelling experience to see a school of so many come together and welcome someone who means so much to our school. Thank you, Hastings Boys', for the fantastic hospitality you displayed for our school and for welcoming Mr Summerfield into your family. We know that you will benefit from all that he has to offer. Look after him; you will see why he meant so much to the Rathkeale community.

Head Boy of Rathkeale College, James Church

Bowen Steffert was presented the Lauren Northover Memorial Shield for winning the Korimako Senior English at the regional Manu Kōrero Speech Competition earlier in the month. He will be presenting at the Nationals in term 3.

1,2,3 - PULL

1,2,3 - PULL

1,2,3 - PULL

The classic school game of tug o war for bragging rights. It’s a simple game, all that is needed is a rope and a team. A team where none are the same, but when there’s winning on the line, we’re ready to push our differences aside to keep the end goal in mind. All that’s needed to bring us together - is a rope and a time, this rope bound of weak strings, that have become strong by being intertwined… Just keep that in mind.

A 2021 news headline reads “96% of Māori experience racism everyday”. Yes, you heard that right. Every. Day. If you think that's bad, imagine the statistics for people who look like they ‘don’t belong’; in New Zealand. They sadly face the forefront of racism. Racism can be perception and perceptions damage the fabric of our society.

Racism is loud, obnoxious and rude, but never forget it is also silent. Silence when you see that Māori

fella being stalked by the shop keeper because of the moko he wears. You don’t join in, but equally you say nothing. Silence when you hear people ridicule the use of te reo. You don’t join in, but equally you do nothing. “Quiet isn't always peace”. “E toa ai a Whiro, me noho puku noa a Kou tangata.

All that evil needs to triumph, is for good people to do nothing”.

Racism is active, it is passive, but always it is insidious. In order to eradicate racism, we need to be a team. Work together as a team. Pull together equally as a team. Like tug of war - If everyone doesn’t play their part, if someone let's go of the rope, if someone refuses to join - the rope will drop and the team will fall. Defeated. But through unity, our team of 5 million can pull together to divide and conquer racism. As rugby world champions, political advocates, and history makers, New Zealand has always fought above our weight. We were the first in the world to recognise female voting rights and we can be the first to eradicate hate and unite our people under a banner of acceptance.

“Ki te Kōtahi te kākaho, ka whati; ki te kāpuia, e kore e whati. If there is but one toe toe stem it will break, but if they are bound together like strands in a rope they will never break.” To unite with one another, is to strengthen our rope.

My tīpuna speak not a word of Māori for they were beaten for speaking our native tongue - in a place where they should have felt nurtured and safe. Yet today my Nan is colour blind, in that she doesn’t see Pākehā or Māori. She sees only those who care, and those who don’t. She has taught me it's not what we see on the outside of people, but what we see within. Heart is what matters. This simple yet profound view inspires me. She is my role model, a wahine toa, my anchor to acceptance. Her morals align with the kōtahitanga of all of our people. All of us. I love this sentiment, yet we should all feel proud of the colour that adorns our skin. We don’t need to be blind to it. We must embrace it. None of us have control over our race or skin colour. By chance we are born into our families and are gifted our ethnicities, our taonga, from our ancestors. Culture is a treasure and as such we must treasure it. Cultural unity doesn’t mean we are the same. It means being united in our differences. Celebrating what makes us unique.

I am not Samoan, but I have been gifted a lei, and I treasure it, as a taonga. A vaega of Samoans at my school this year sold hangi to fundraise. Although they are not Māori, they were excited to adopt our culture’s tikanga. This is an example of embracing diversity. It is a continual process.

In the past te reo Māori was dying, but the 1990s bought a generation of tamariki that would not let our culture die out. And although I come to you today, not fluent in my language, not perfectly connected to my hauora, and far from a flawless Māori, I stand before you proud of my culture and I’m determined to not let it die. I come as the needle, to sew the anchor stitch of my tīpuna. To mend the fabric of our society. In order for the tapestry of humanity to thrive, it requires threads from all of our people. We must all be woven together tightly, through the same attitude of fierce determination to create a strong, intertwined rope of humanity.

Remember tug of war is not a game of strength, but a game of unity, an example of power in our diversity. As part of the human race, the purpose in our team is a connected community. Our goal is to create for all, opportunity, and with our team of 5 million embrace our diversity.

1,2,3 - Will you pull with me?

1,2,3 - Will you embrace tikanga Māori?

1,2,3 - Will you share your culture at every opportunity?

Recently a few more Prefects have been awarded their Honours Blazers bringing the total to 13 so far. The Blazers are awarded to Year 13 students who are recognised for excellence across a wide range of activities. Students must be a Prefect and obtain a minimum of two colours awards from two different areas: Academic, Sport, Culture, Community
Back Row from left: Cameron McKay, Jonah Cooper, Joseph Lilo-Iosefo, Max Thornton, Carter Smith, Bowen Steffert. Front Row from Left: Callan Robson, Beau Heibner, Brayden Reeve, Osiris White-Munro, Manwinder Nagra, Mike Brown Absent: Isireli Qaranivalu

On Tuesday, June 18th, senior History students attended a talk by Minniejean Brown Trickey, one of the "Little Rock Nine," and her daughter Spirit. Minniejean shared her experiences as a key figure in the civil rights movement during the desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.

After the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education case, nine African American students were allowed to enrol in the previously all-white Central High School. Faced with violent opposition and the Governor of Arkansas's attempt to use the National Guard to block their entry, the students endured intense racial threats and discrimination.

President Eisenhower intervened by sending the 101st Airborne Division to protect the students and ensure their safe entry into the school. Despite the federal troops' presence, the Little Rock Nine faced severe harassment from many white students. Minniejean, after being repeatedly taunted, was suspended for retaliating against her harassers and was later suspended for the rest of the school year.

The students' resilience and the federal intervention marked a significant moment in the fight for civil rights and school desegregation in the U.S.A.

The following History students shared their thoughts on the presentation…

Phaizon Parkes 12Ro

Listening to Minniejean enabled all of the History students to grasp how momentous this enrollment of nine African-American students was for education in the United States and the civil rights movement. Ultimately, I felt honoured to be in the presence of Minnijean Brown-Trickey and her daughter Spirit as they gave their personal perspective and individual life experiences that were so courageous and groundbreaking.

Aiden Brewer 12Ro

There were lots of highlights that I noted while listening to Minnijean and her daughter, Spirit. They conversed about the topic of being black and going to a white school during this time period and the difficulties and discrimination that came with it.

One of the highlights was listening to her stories of courage and strength that were displayed through her actions. It made us admire all of the Little Rock Nine for being able to do an incredibly courageous act that most people would not do.

The audience asked questions of Minnijean and Spirit and they answered with heartfelt emotion and first-hand experience. The reason the questions were a highlight was because it allowed the audience to truly grasp the story by listening to a person who was actually there at Little Rock and was in such a vulnerable position. It also allowed some of the audience to share their opinions on the topic by asking questions that agreed with something Minnijean or Spirit had stated earlier. Another interesting point was when Minnijean was asked if she told her parents about the discrimination she faced at school. Spirit then asked us if we ever go home and tell our parents in detail about what happened at school. With our answer we found her answer, using the technique of audience participation and getting us to reflect and think about our own lives. It was also shocking to hear about the threats of lynchings, bullying and the death threats their families received. Her insights were a true eye-opener where her experiences at Little Rock Nine would have been extremely traumatic considering she never told her parents or even talked to anyone about what was happening. Overall it was interesting and a great experience and I enjoyed listening to all the stories and messages Minnijean wanted to convey.

"The Academic Extension programme involves Y8 students from Hastings and Heretaunga Intermediates taking part in 4 specialised activities: Debating, Robotics, Chess and Movie Special Effects. The programme is designed to enhance the learning of the students in subjects or activities that they have had limited participation in and runs once a week for the last 4 weeks of term 2.

The students have thoroughly enjoyed their learning experience and it is hoped we are able to open the opportunity up for more schools and students in the future."

The following ESOL (English as a second language) have worked hard this year and have received a reading certificate:

Solomone Latu 10 Fa

Mark Mareko 9 Fm

Poiva Fesolai 10 Fa

Fialelei Mareko 10 Mu

On Thursday 21st June our Young Enterprise Business Studies senior groups launched their products and services in the HBHS hall. It was their first selling opportunity this year to promote their wares. HBHS has nine companies across Year 12 and 13 who have been working all year to develop their product design, marketing strategy, sales Pitch and now Product Launch.

They definitely enjoyed themselves on the day and they made profit to put towards their next selling day at the Hastings Farmers Market on 18 August and/or the Napier Urban Farmers Market on the 24 August.

Please support our young entrepreneurs by following them on Instagram and attending the next selling day. All the best for the remainder of the year!

The Business's names are: Akina Grille, Tropical, Moer Lekker, Akina Smugglers, Balls Out, Lulu Bags, Shaggy2fresh, Flavour Fusion, HB Ambrosia

Congratulations to Year 11 student Amanjot Singh Kullar on his selection into the NZ Indian Senior Men's team competing at the Hockey NZ National Heritage Tournament. The NZ Indian team played NZ Māori, NZ Pacifica and NZ Asian teams over the Easter Weekend. Amanjot scored a winning goal with a top corner drag flick in the final. The NZ Indian team won the tournament final 3-1. All commentators were really amazed with Amanjot’s skill level, and he impressed everyone at the tournament.

Amanjot was also selected to play in a training game against the NZ Black Sticks Olympic team in June.This follows on from his excellent skills shown in the games for the NZ Indian team.

Amanjot looked really comfortable at this level. He said that he learned lots and had lots of fun.

At the end of term 2, the HBHS golf team travelled to Rotorua to play their first Super 8 golf match. A strong team was selected, with the top 4 playing off the stick and the next 4 playing handicap matchplay. Sleepless nights will have been had by our number 1 and 2, playing against this year's Maori Strokeplay champion and a nationally ranked player. Taylor and Freddie performed admirably, before going down in their games. Austin produced some scintillating golf, narrowly losing his match, with Bryce suffering the same fate. In the next group, Louis managed to hold off his partner for a fine win, with James also coming home with half a point in his game. Tayven and Max missed out but played some majestic golf on the way.

A final score of 6.5 to 1.5 was an admirable start to our Super 8's golf adventure. Congratulations to the boys and we'll look forward to the next match.

At a recent Hip Hop Competition Year 11 student Carter Ah Kiong and his crew "Legacy" performed in the Varsity Division - one of the toughest divisions, and out of 19 crews "Legacy" from the Mafia Dance Company placed 2nd! Congratulations Carter and crew!

One hundred year 12 and 13 boys attended the Futureopoly careers pathways experience, an excellent event run by the Graeme Dingle Foundation. Futureopoly specifically caters for students wanting more hands-on type work within our region. The event showcased local businesses, trades and industries in an interactive format resembling a Monopoly board game. Students who engaged in activities and interview questions were rewarded with prizes. All students were actively engaged and were genuinely interested in future pathways

All year 12 and 13 students attended the New Zealand Careers Expo held at Pettigrew Green Arena. This nationwide expo offers informative booths ranging from tertiary institutions, private businesses and trades to the NZ police and the Defence Department. The feedback received from the boys was overwhelmingly positive and the experience will further support careers choices for our students.

While we welcome change there is still a sense of sadness as the old Tier Block is slowly and carefully demolished. There will be many memories from the many years it stood proudly at the front of our school.

On Friday, June 7, staff, students, and distinguished guests gathered in the morning before dawn for the traditional Māori blessing of the new English and Mathematics building. It was an occasion that, for the school, was a long time coming, representing years of behind-the-scenes planning, alterations, and collaboration with the Ministry of Education. Most of this work was done by the late Headmaster, Mr Rob Sturch, and Property Manager, Mr Karaan Crawford.

By week 7, classes were moved out of the old Tier Block, and lessons were underway. Staff and students are extremely appreciative of the comfortable teaching and learning environment. The building, which is adjoined to the library, will allow for greater student and staff collaboration. The English and Mathematic Departments are still working through the finer details, and it has been pleasing to see how the students have responded to the new environment, taking ownership of their space and respecting the space.

The move marked the end of the old Tier block, named after the former Headmaster, J.E. Tier, built in the 1950s, seeing countless students pass through its doors in its 60 years of existence. This building will be demolished during the Term 2 holidays to create a new car park.

Hastings 4120

Ph: +64 6 873 0365
email: paoffice@hastingsboys.school.nz

http://www.hastingsboys.school.nz