Prefects welcomed to new roles by special haka

MANA WAHINE: Turakina Maori Girls' College students celebrate the appointment of new leaders at their gala day on Saturday. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 060315WCSMTURAKINA2

More than 300 people attended a gala day at Turakina Maori Girls' College on Saturday and enjoyed sampling delicious kai, picking up some bargains and listening to waiata.

Principal Terehia Channings said the gala was well supported by whanau members and the community.

"We hosted three other Maori boarding schools - Hato Paora, from Feilding, and Te Aute College and Hukarere Girls' College from Hawke's Bay.

"We were very blessed with beautiful weather on the day and the performances by the other Maori boarding schools really added flavour to the day, with our own girls closing our gala with a wonderful performance."

Mrs Channings said the hangi meals were very popular and diners said they were a bargain at $8 for a generous serve.

"We had many generous donations of goods and cash as well as from whanau and New World Marton, and local Paddy Potaka donated the pig for the hangi.

"A lot of people remained behind after all the food had sold to watch the girls' performances and the ceremony for the appointment of the head prefect and deputy head prefect.

The head prefect is Te Arihi Leaf, of Ngati Tuwharetoa, and the deputy head prefect is Brooke Rangitawa, of Ngati Maniapoto and Ngati Tuwharetoa, whose whanau live locally in Marton.

"They proved to be a very popular choices amongst the Turakina students and both these students were bombarded with hugs and kisses and after the haka 'Mana Wahine' was performed to support their appointments."

Turakina Maori Girls' College will celebrate its 110-year anniversary on May 29 and 30 this year and Mrs Channings said the birthday anniversary will be attended by former staff, board members and students, stakeholders of TMGC, the Presbyterian Church, Friends of TMGC, the local community and iwi, the Ratana Church, other Maori boarding schools, Rangitikei mayor Andy Watson, the rotary club, local school principals, whanau, Maori TV and local newspapers.