What we aim to do, as a school, is to create long-lasting memories that cement the feeling of belonging. Planting a tree creates a personal connection between that student and their learning journey at school.
At our annual ‘A Tree for Every child” Wairakei Primary allows for those memories and connections to be established. It is not just about building up our native flora and fauna so our local tuis will return each year. It’s about having a special part of the school just for you -- a student of Wairakei Primary.
Mum and dads and extended family come to school for the morning. They bring with them, their cameras, and spades to capture the moment. Our school photographer Matt is also present seeking those one-in-a-million shots that we know are there and he has the time to take them.
Our seniors help to prepare the tree plots and assist with taking the plants from their containers while reminiscing about where their tree is and how much it has grown. Ask any student who has planted a tree somewhere in the school and they can locate it.
It’s hearing the voices of the students as they speak about their day. What they remember and why that makes us look forward to rolling out ‘A Tree for Every Child’ year after year.
My River's Journey
Like the rivers that have carved their paths through the landscapes of my life, my educational journey has flowed with purpose and determination, gathering strength and wisdom along the way.
My story begins in Mosgiel, where the gentle Taieri River cradled my earliest moments, nurturing my first tentative steps into the world. Like a tributary joining a larger flow, my family's journey carried us northward to Hamilton, where the mighty Waikato River embraced us in its steady current—this became the first place my heart truly recognised as home.
As the daughter of a New Zealand Railways family, our lives mirrored the rivers themselves—always in motion, always seeking new paths. The sacred Whanganui welcomed us next, its ancient waters whispering stories of generations past as I began to form my own identity. My family journey continued upstream to Taumarunui, where the Whanganui and Ongarue Rivers converge in perfect harmony—much like how my early experiences were merging to shape my understanding of education, community, and the interconnectedness of all things.
We briefly anchored in Napier, where though no dominant river commanded the landscape, the network of smaller waterways reminded me that even subtle influences can nurture growth and transformation. These coastal streams, less visible although no less vital, taught me that leadership sometimes flows quietly beneath the surface, supporting life in ways unseen but deeply felt.
The current then guided me to Palmerston North, where I trained to become a teacher. It was here, along the banks of the Manawatu, that I met Andrew, who would become my husband and fellow traveler on life's journey.
In Rotorua, the river of my life expanded into a lake, mirroring the growth of my family as children joined our voyage. The unique thermal waters of the region seemed to infuse me with a special energy and perspective that would influence my approach to nurturing young minds.
The return home to the mighty Waikato River called next, drawing me to Cambridge where I first emerged as a Team Leader. Just as the river carves its determined path through the land, I began to shape my leadership style, guiding others with the same natural confidence.
My journey continued over the ranges to Tauranga, where like a river meeting the ocean, my leadership horizons expanded dramatically. It was here I truly discovered my calling as an educational leader, flowing naturally into the role of Deputy Principal, navigating both challenges and opportunities with equal grace.
Now, my journey has brought me to the southern reaches of the magnificent Waikato River, beside Lake Taupō—the largest lake in Oceania. As Principal of Wairakei Primary School, I draw energy from the geothermal currents that define this special place.
Rivers couldn't be more fitting—just as this remarkable landscape harnesses natural power from deep within, I channel my wealth of experience and passion to fuel success in a school community.
You know, I've always felt connected to the waters that have shaped our beautiful country. Each place has taught me something different about leadership, about community, about what it means to guide young people toward their potential. And here at Wairakei, I feel like all those streams of experience have come together in the most wonderful way.
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