Nga Pumanawa e Waru music video features Rotorua kids from 12 different schools (+video)

Twelve weeks, 12 schools, one song and one vision will culminate in the public release of a music video featuring hundreds of Rotorua school children.

Education trust Nga Pumanawa e Waru has created a theme song, complete with a music video showing off Rotorua's youth. The final product will be played at a public screening at the Village Green tomorrow morning.

The song, written by the trust's community engagement facilitator Russell Harrison, is sung by Rotorua Boys' High School students Rehua Selwyn, Kihoro Hohepa, Te Hae Clayton and Arapeta Paea.

Mr Harrison said he had spent the last 12 weeks teaching the song to students at each of the 12 schools that responded to the invitation to be involved.

"From there the idea emerged to create a music video featuring the students. We've filmed segments at each school, it's been crazy but it has been a great mechanism for unity."

He said the essence of the song was "Rotorua - a great place to learn".

"I know the power music can have and wanted to use it in a way to engage with students on a different level outside education.

"All the students have taken to the project like ducks to water. It's been about creating a connection to the organisation and create something tangible the children can have access to."

Rotorua Intermediate prefects Jahzell Roberts, 12, Shaun Gifkins, 13, Mariah Pepper, 13, and Julius Smith, 13, told the Rotorua Daily Post what they thought about the project.

"It's pretty cool to know that we're about to be in a music video," Julius said.

"It was a weird but cool feeling knowing you were being filmed," Shaun said.

"It's all been pretty trippy but it's been a really cool experience and I've liked being in front of the camera," Jahzell said.

Mariah said she liked that the music video would be their legacy.

"It's something we can look back on when we're older or show our kids," Shaun added.

The music video will be played at 9.30am, all welcome.

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