School house changes recognise Te Arawa women

A Rotorua high school has restructured its student houses, paying tribute to influential Te Arawa women.

Rotorua Girls' High School parted with the four-house structure of Karenga, Hinemoa, Rangiuru and Rukuwai at the start of this year to establish three new houses, Makereti, Witarina and Taini.

Makereti Thom, also known as Maggie Papakuru, was famous for her guiding in Rotorua.

She was born in 1873 and became an accomplished hostess, entertainer and storyteller.

Witarina Harris was cast as Princess Miro in Hollywood movie Under the Southern Cross in 1929. However, instead of pursuing a Hollywood career after filming ended, Witarina became a public servant in Wellington.

In the 1950s she was a foundation member of the Maori Women's Welfare League and helped set up the Ngati Poneke Young Maori Club.

She died at the age of 101 in 2007.

Taini Morrison was a leader and one of the founding members of the award winning Maori performing group Te Matarae-i-o-Rehu.

She played a crucial part in the group's award winning performance at the 2002 Te Matatini Festival and was a kapa haka tutor for the school.

House captains Aroha Oneroa, 17, Zeta Howden, 17, and Te Au Waaka, 17, said they wanted to leave a legacy like the women their houses were named after.

Zeta, captain for Witarina, said she had found it easy connecting to her new house's namesake.

"All the houses are named after amazing women who did a lot for their community. We want to be able to leave a legacy like that behind us.

"I found it hard connecting with my former house because it was named after a mountain but Witarina was a real woman who made a real difference in this world and that is something I can look toward, draw inspiration from and relate to."

Aroha, captain for Taini, said it was "awesome to represent a house named after such an influential Te Arawa woman".

"People really loved her [Taini] and she loved her people. All I can hope is that I will be remembered like that."

Principal Ally Gibbons said understanding who these women were and their contributions to their communities would bring a vital and vibrant dynamic to the school's leadership journey.

"We are privileged and honoured that the families have consented to allowing these women to stand as role models for our girls."