Whare Leaders 2021

Hadley Murray (KAREWA Whare Leader)

Hadley appreciates the friendly and positive atmosphere at Otumoetai College that has allowed him to grow into the person he is today. His best experience to date was the 2018 winter tournament where he played for the Senior A Boys Basketball Team, a big deal for a Year 10 student! It was a positive experience, especially for someone having just moved to Tauranga and adjusting to a new area. Currently Hadley is involved in playing and coaching basketball, he is also a STARS Peer Mentor, and goes to the gym. His goals are to maintain a consistent focus in all subjects throughout the year, endorse NCEA Level 3, as well as to be a positive influence around others. His favourite subjects are Business and Sports Science and he would love to combine these passions as a profession. A little known fact about Hadley is that he won the Kim Barrett Award for Computers in both Year 7 and 8 while attending Murrays Bay Intermediate.

Amelia Farrar (KAREWA Whare Leader)

Amelia loves the huge range of opportunities Otumoetai College has provided over the years, from fun trips and sporting events to leadership roles. Her best experiences at Otumoetai College were the Great Barrier camp and going away for hockey tournaments. Her hobbies include hockey, skiing, wakeboarding and orienteering. This year Amelia wants to endorse NCEA Level 3 with Excellence as well as successfully integrating the Whare system into Otumoetai College by inspiring people to get more involved in school events and creating a better sense of community. Her favourite subjects are maths, science, and accounting. Amelia plans on going to university next year, and studying a double degree which will involve commerce.

Emily Mahon (MANANUI Whare Leader)

Emily appreciates the ‘great people’ that she has met and learnt from in her time at Otumoetai College. She credits her trips to Great Barrier Island in year 10 as well as in Year 12 as part of the Duke of Edinburgh programme as being a highlight of her time here. Emily is involved in swimming and surf lifesaving, as well as hiking and exploring around New Zealand. She hopes to have a great final year and balance her academics and sport, as she prepares for university. As a leader, Emily wants to help implement the new whare system into the school and to be a good role model. Her favourite subjects are Maths, Economics and English and she is hoping to pursue law or engineering in the future.

Ashton Gordon (MANANUI Whare Leader)

Ashton enjoys the opportunities provided by the school and he rates his best experiences to date as the various sport tournaments he has attended over the years. Ashton plays hockey as well as beach volleyball and his favourite subjects are Sports Science and Marine Studies. When Ashton leaves school he wants to do something involving the ocean and the environment. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting , fishing and playing sport.

Monique Aitchison (MAUNGANUI Whare Leader)

Monique likes the opportunities Otumoetai College provides for its students, with so many different sports and activities available for students to get involved in. She credits

Otumoetai with a strong school spirit and always feels that the students love to get involved and support their school with pride. Her best experience at Otumoetai College was her involvement in the school musicals, specifically High School Musical. The bonds that grew between the student cast members, tech crew, band members and the teachers is something that she will always cherish. Monique has been involved in Hockey, school musicals, cross country running and playing electric and acoustic guitar. Her goals are to gain the results she needs to get into University and to apply herself in all school activities available to her. She also wants to encourage and support students to try to the best of their abilities and to set a good example for the future Whare Leaders at Otumoetai College. Her favourite subjects are Drama and Calculus and Monique aspires to be recruited into the NZ defence force, be it Police, RNZAF or be a Search and Rescue officer.

Joel Cory (OTANEWAINUKU Whare Leader)

Joel appreciates the opportunities presented to students such as the wide range of subjects, extracurricular activities and trips. His favourite experience was the Great Barrier Camp because of how he was pushed outside of his comfort zone. His hobbies include swimming, football and lifeguard patrol. Joel’s favourite subject is Outdoor Education because It includes some of his favourite hobbies and activities. Joel aspires to study Civil Engineering at university. A little known fact about him is that 5 members of his immediate family are born on the 24th and he also shares a birthday with his mum.

Taila Rikirangi (OTANEWAINUKU Whare Leader)

Taila appreciates the diversity of the kura and the many cultures we have in our school as well as the whakawhanaungatanga within the kura and how all students find their own place. She has found her own space within the school where she feels comfortable and knows that she can thrive. School has given her a family outside of home and supports her with endless pathways and opportunities. Taila is involved in Kapa Haka and rugby for both the 7s, and the First XV Girls, while also representing the Bay of Plenty in Rugby. Taila has always aspired to be a leader/lawyer in which she represents and is a kaikorero for her whanau, people and whenua. A little known fact about Taila is, when she was younger, she entered a singing competition and came third in the North Island.

Back row left to right: Moses Caldwell, Hadley Murray, Ashton Gordon, Zach Reeder, Joel Cory Front row left to right: Meg Kale, Amelia Farrar, Emily Mahon, Monique Aitcheson, Taila Rikirangi