Kia ora te whanau o te kotuku

It has been an absolute pleasure to be able host in person our awards ceremony evenings throughout this week. The chance to celebrate as a community is something that has been missing throughout the last couple of years. I have thoroughly enjoyed being at the Pasifika Awards, Cultural Awards and again this evening at our Sports Dinner and having students being recognized for their accomplishments.
I would like to make special mention of any of our senior students who in 2022 graced the stage, field, court, or arena at Rutherford as students for the last time. I hope you will take with you great memories; you have left us with many.

The friendships made often prove to be lifelong ones and cannot be overstated. It is those experiences that you talk about when you catch up with each other in the years ahead. You have certainly enriched the school and helped contribute to the feel-good factor.  I admire every one of you for taking on the challenge and adding to wairua at Rutherford.

Many times, you have, without realising it have flown in the V formation, had many people packing the various parachutes required, you will have smelt the flowers on your side of the path, and learned the value of little acts of human kindness while pursuing personal excellence. You have much to be proud of and as a school we thank you, I thank you for your vast contribution.
The duration of the contest, performance or challenge may only be minutes or a couple of hours in duration, while the training and rehearsals may take weeks or years of arduous work, continuous training, self-effort and sacrifice.

The true value of what you have achieved is not the actual event played in the limelight of applause, or medal or trophy attained but the hours of dogged determination and self-discipline carried out alone, imposed and supervised by your own exacting conscience.

The applause soon dies away, the prize is left behind, but the character, the values you build are yours forever. X2 that’s the real prize.

Some people make things happen, some people watch things happen, some wonder what just happened. Over the three nights of celebration this week our students were all part of that first group, you get involved and make things happen. As a result, they have enriched their own lives and those of the people they have shared the experiences with.

Have a great weekend.

Gary Moore
Principal