Te Haikura a Kiwa

Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan! 🇵🇭❤️💙💛

This week we celebrate Philippine Independence Day and recognise the rich culture, history, and contributions of our Filipino community here at Te Haikura a Kiwa.

A special shoutout to our Filipino students and whānau who help make our school such a vibrant and diverse place. 🙌

Be sure to check out the Week 8 notices and events schedule to see what's happening around the school this week. We look forward to celebrating together and getting involved in all the activities on offer!

Earlier this week, our Kiwa Samoan Group performed at Clendon Library alongside other local schools as part of the Samoan Language Week celebrations. It was great to see our students sharing their gagana, aganu'u and pride with the wider community.

Fa'afetai tele lava to everyone who organised and coordinated this special event. Your hard work created a wonderful opportunity for our students to celebrate and showcase their Samoan language and culture. 🇼🇸

🎉 A huge congratulations to our own Fane Fusipongi Ketu'u, JP, who has been recognized in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours List and appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to Tongan language education.

For over 20 years, Fane has been a dedicated member of our Kiwa whānau, serving our students, families, and wider Tongan community with unwavering commitment and passion. This honor is a reflection of the many years she has spent championing Tongan language, culture, and education. We are so proud to see her dedication and service recognized at a national level.

Many will know Fane through her work as a teacher, but her impact reaches far beyond the classroom. From coordinating the Tongan Stage at Polyfest to her involvement in Lea Ki Moana and other community initiatives, she has worked tirelessly to ensure our young people stay connected to their language, culture, values, and identity.

Mālō 'aupito Fane. Thank you for all that you do for our school, our community, and future generations. This recognition is truly deserved. ❤️🇹🇴

On Sunday, some of our Tupuaga students joined 16 other schools at De La Salle College to celebrate and officially open Samoan Language Week 2026 🙌🏾🇼🇸

Representing Te Haikura a Kiwa for the first time for Samoan Language Week, they performed with pride and did an amazing job. We look forward to continuing the celebrations this week and beyond as we celebrate and uplift our language and culture 🇼🇸✨

Ia manuia le Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa | Happy Samoan Language Week! 😍🇼🇸

We’re excited to celebrate the richness of Samoan language and culture with a range of activities throughout the week, including special assemblies led by our very own O Le Tupuaga students 🙌🏾

Be sure to check out the schedule, and if you’re part of our wider community, make sure you don’t miss out on our students performances at the Clendon library and at Finlayson School in celebration of their 30th birthday.

Join us on Friday as well for a day full of performances and activities led by our Tupuaga Unit! 🤩✨