Greetings and welcome to you all! 

I am very proud and humbled to be returning to this vibrant and warm community where I grew up.

I am a first generation Tokelauan New Zealander and understand the hopes and dreams that my family had of education. It is through education that I now give back to my community.

Our cultures are rich with traditions, values, and wisdom that have withstood the test of time. They are cultures built on resilience, strength, and community. They remind us of the importance of family, connection, and honouring our ancestors. They teach us to embrace diversity, celebrate our differences, and to always strive for excellence.

This school has a proud tradition of excellence and we will continue to strive, using our values to keep us grounded. Our values are:

Manaaki – We Care
Atawhai – We Contribute
Nanaiore – We Strive
Ako – We Learn

I want to highlight the first two lines of our school’s waerea that demonstrates our commitment to create a safe haven for learning and a desire to connect us together as a learning community.

Waerea te rangi e tū iho nei, Waerea te papa e takato nei
Let the sky cover us. Let the earth comfort us
Paihere nei te tai whenua ki uta, Paihere nei te tai moana ki tai
Connect our people from the land to the sea and from the sea to the land.

It is important to me that our community feels safe and cared for at this kura so that they can achieve endless possibilities. This school will acknowledge and understand our differences but we will celebrate that we are one- united in the fact that we are here in this kura.

I end now with the last line of our waerea that reminds us of our collective mahi ahead.

Kia mahea, kia puta ai au, ki te whai ao ki te ao mārama
Uhia mai te korowai atawhai, ki runga ki ēnei pākeke, ki runga ki ēnei taura, ki runga ki ēnei tauira

Let all unseen heaviness be cleared and safe so that we are able to navigate through the challenges that lay ahead.

Whāno, whāno, hara mai te toki, Haumie, uie, tāiki e…

Tina Filipo
Tumuaki