Classmates' song, haka hail dux

A Paihia 17-year-old who received much of her early education in kaupapa Maori schools has been named the dux of Bay of Islands College for 2011.

Rebekah Chambers-Thatcher, daughter of Te Ruru (Ruth) Thatcher-Umuroa and David Chambers, received the award on Tuesday night at the college's Year 13 graduation dinner and prizegiving at the Copthorne Hotel in Waitangi.

She appeared genuinely surprised and overcome with emotion as her classmates performed a spontaneous song and a haka in her honour.

Rebekah is of Ngati Porou and Ngati Kahungunu descent on her mother's side and Ngati Porou on her father's.

Proud mum Mrs Thatcher-Umuroa, a teacher at a kaupapa Maori school in Omanaia, South Hokianga, said Rebekah had "always been an academic child".

Rebekah was raised in Gisborne and educated in Maori-immersion schools, starting with Te Putake Whakatupuranga Kohanga Reo then Waikirikiri School.

After moving to Northland she attended Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Taumarere in Moerewa, then Paihia School and Bay of Islands College in Kawakawa.

She is as yet undecided what to do next year.

Proxime Accessit (runner-up) was Ian Tauhinu, 18, the college's head boy from Hupara, near Moerewa. Next year he plans to start a BA in Maori and political studies alongside a Bachelor of Education.