Kōtuitui Writers' Challenge 2024

Friday, 15th November 2024 at 12:20pm

Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua - the whenua (land) has existed long before us and will continue to exist far beyond each of our individual lives.

This theme provoked some very reflective and thoughtful written expression from students, around what tūrangawaewae means for us as a community, with a particular focus on our connection to the whenua and how we nurture it. The challenge invited students from Years 1-13, as part of our Kōtuitui network, to submit a written entry.

2024 was the third year of the Kōtuitui Writers' Challenge. Students were challenged to reflect on their relationship with the whenua through the lense of the whakataukī: Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua. Participants shared their interpretations through various modes of writing, and we were overwhelmed by both the number, and the quality of the entries.

A huge congratulations to all participants, and in particular to those who placed in each category:

Junior Primary Yr 1-3:

1st Place: 'Kaitiakitanga' (from Kaurilands School Year 3) 2nd Place: 'We Are Kaitiaki' (from Kaurilands School Year 3)

Senior Primary Yr 4-6:

1st Place: 'A Place of Memories - French Bay' (from Titirangi Primary School Year 6) 2nd= Place: 'Whispers of the Wild' (from Fruitvale School Year 6) 2nd= Place: 'Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua' (from Fruitvale School Year 6) 3rd Place: 'To Whom it May Concern' (from Titirangi School Year 6)

Intermediate Yr 7-8:

1st Place: 'The Ngahere of West Auckland' (from Glen Eden Intermediate School Year 8) 2nd Place: 'The Kauri Tree' (from Glen Eden Intermediate School Year 7) 3rd= Place: 'Through the Forest' (from Glen Eden Intermediate School Year 8) 3rd= Place: 'Salt and Blossoms' (from Glen Eden Intermediate School Year 7)

Junior Secondary Yr 9-10:

1st Place: Henry Smith: Green Bay High School Year 10 2nd= Place: Grace Veenhof: Green Bay High School Year 10 2nd= Place: Madan Rajkumar: 'Our Whenua' Green Bay High School Year 10

Senior Secondary Yr 11-13:

1st Place: Stella Littlewood: Green Bay High School Year 11