Sports Journal - student -

This is who we are

In the 1600s chief Apanui Ringamutu of Te Kaha often felt like a miserable failure as his men had been beaten so many times in battles Depressed, their mana was very low, and they had a low opinion of themselves During another battle retreat, Apanui called out to the tohunga, a leader of the enemy tribe Hikawera, who was watching them

“Aue! Why am I always such a failure as a warrior chief?” asked Apanui.

“That which you seek,” said the tohunga, “will be found by following the setting sun”

On returning home to his pa, Apanui thought about what the tohunga had said. Finally, he decided that somewhere in the Western Bay of Plenty, in Tauranga Moana, there was someone who could give him the power to succeed, and to really become a toa.

Meanwhile in the pa at Matuaiwi in Tauranga Moana, a tohunga called Kinomoerua was in his kumara patch chanting a karakia to protect the crop from the kumara grub

He owned a pet tui that could talk, and it followed him wherever he went. The tui called out to him.

“Koka ē! Tahia te marae – Hey Dad, better get the marae ready”

This was how the tui warned Kinomoerua that visitors were approaching and he needed to get ready to greet them and oer hospitality.

Kinomoerua went back to his Matuaiwi pa and welcomed Apanui

After speeches, Apanui told Kinomoerua why he had travelled there. Could Kinomoerua tell him how to become a successful toa?

Kinomoerua said nothing, but led his visitor to look out over the harbour towards Rangiwaea and Matakana. As they looked, a bird swooped down out of the sky and dived into the water. It was a kawau, a shag.

Soon the bird reappeared above the water It opened its mouth and ate the wind It had failed to catch the fish it had been after Several times it opened its mouth and achieved nothing

“See that shag?” asked Kinomoerua. “Don’t you perform like that, Apanui, it gets nothing, and like you, it gets nowhere.”

The pair paddled across the harbour to Maunganui, and beached their canoe alongside Mauao where the rocks guard the entrance to the harbour They sat on the slope and looked down on the rock called Te Toka a Tirikawa, or North Rock, as it is often called now

The waves crashed and broke over the rock in succession, over and over again. Each time the rock reappeared as the foaming waves poured o it.

“See that rock?” asked Kinomoerua “Look on Te Toka a Tirikawa and conduct yourself as it does Ka ngaro ka ngaro, ka ea ka ea Te Toka a Tirikawa”

Apanui was greatly encouraged and never forgot the vision of the waves breaking on the rock of Tirikawa. He defeated his enemy Hikawera of Ngati Porou and went on to further victories.

Kia Toka Tu Moana

This is what we do

All behaviours should be underpinned by the college values of Respect one and all, Strive for excellence, Working together and Standing strong in order for us all to enjoy playing sport, have fun, and take part in healthy competitions

Respect one and all

- Respect all ocials, teammates, coaches, supporters and opponents

- Be punctual to every training session and fixture

- Communicate directly with my coach if I am unable to attend fixtures or training

Strive for excellence

- Be open and willing to learn

- Commit to every training session, fixture and tournament that I am selected for

- Ensure I wear the apparel that I have been requested to wear

Working together

- Work as hard as I possibly can in everything I do

- Play by the rules of my sport at all times

- Support those around me through my actions and words

Standing strong

- Represent my school with the utmost pride, dignity, honesty and loyalty

- Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat

- Never give up

These values should underpin our accepted behaviours in and around school