3 November 2025

Our Year 13 students wrapped up their time at school last week – in style as well I might add. The behaviour of the cohort was impeccable for the final two weeks (spirit week was the week prior, with fun activities planned by our student leaders taking place through the week) and I’d like to thank the cohort for this, although we expected nothing less from what has been a superb group of students. 

Friday was Year 13 Graduation (another beautiful morning weather wise contributed to an outstanding ceremony). We again split the ceremony, with the BRPAC being filled to capacity for both sessions. The split allowed for family groups to see their child crossing the stage at Massey High School for the last time. For those families, it was great to see them demonstrate how important the moment was to them given the support they have provided for their children. However, given the continued growth of our Year 13 cohort, and the demand for seats for families, we may have to explore some different options for Graduation 2026. Our 2025 Deputy Head Prefects Tiotiana Tito and Munroe Fusitu’a  hosted the morning and addressed their cohort for the last time. Both spoke beautifully about their time here and what leaving means and capped an emotional ceremony perfectly.

 Our House Leaders did a superb job of announcing the graduates, enabling all to have their moment in the sun as they crossed the stage.

Henry Fisher (Head Prefect 2024) gave what was possibly the most entertaining speech ever delivered in the BRPAC, although it was still one that contained valuable lessons for our graduating students.

Final thanks for the morning to our Year 13 Ākina Leaders Ursula Cork and Michael Osborne for their organisation of the event.

Thursday was the annual Year 13 lunch, with food provided by our community and prepared and served by our staff. Thanks to all involved, it is a huge undertaking and everything ran like clockwork – thanks to Callandra Field for bringing the morning together. 

Again, I’d like to thank our Year 13 students for their time here, and for finishing the year so well. Each year we are humbled by the way they acknowledge the end of their time here, and the way they do it with respect for the school, community, and their families. This particular cohort is on track to be our most successful ever, and we wish them all well for their exams.

Senior Prizegiving

Our Senior Prize giving on Wednesday celebrated the success of our Year 12 and 13 students, whilst I often talk to our students about how success can look different for all, there are still times where we must simply acknowledge academic success at the highest level.

Nearly $400,000 in tertiary scholarships were awarded at Prize giving – with 6 students receiving The Auckland University Top Achiever Scholarship valued at $25,000 each (Ava Garratt, Ada Kim, Thaddeus Maloney, Athrun Nair, Jack Pringle, and Lucy Ward), another receiving the Auckland University Waka Moana Scholarship $23,000 (Tiki Iti Atkinson), and another receiving 3 separate scholarships (Harveer Talwar – who received 2 from U of A worth $10,000 as well as the PWC Scholarship valued at over $10,000). 

Simeon Kim received the top scholarship from Otago University valued at $45,000, with Nanon Praditsang receiving the University of Otago International Global Scholarship valued at $15,000.

Three of our Year 12 students were recipients of the First Foundation Scholarship which provides financial assistance, mentoring, and work experience, each one worth $28,000 (Mutien Afemata, Shadman Amiry, and Zephaniah Lai).

Our top academic awards were announced at the end of the evening including the announcement of the top award – Dux Litterarum.

The Clem Campton Award for School Dux (the top Academic Student at Massey High School)

Simeon Kim (Massey Primary School)

The Peel Award for Proxime Accessit (Runner up Year 13 student)

Ava Garratt (Huapai District School) AND Amber Honey (Taupaki School)

Naddy Naidoo Award (Top Academic Student in Year 12)

Samara Lauchlan (Waitakere School)

Seek the Heights for Outstanding Academic Achievement (Runner up Year 12 Student)

Brenna Wright (Waimauku School)

Our House Leaders for 2026 were named:

• Hiranga House – Aviu Falani (West Harbour School) and Keenan Te Tai (Marina View School)
• Kārearea House – Terina Wanakore and Ahnaf Hussain
• Mātauranga House – Mutien Afemata (West Harbour School) and Brenna Wright (Waimauku School)
• Tūrama House – Juliett Matariki and Jasmine Turner

As were our Gold Badge Prefects for 2026:

• Academy Leaders – Lilli Hayes (Waitakere School) and Cavahli Te Mete Tangiora
• Arts Leaders – Mazie Strickett (Waitakere School) and Madelyn Taylor (Huapai District School)
• Community Leaders – Moni Telefoni and Davina Tito (Middle School West Auckland)
• Cultural Leaders – Zephaniah Auva’a (Henderson Intermediate) and Molly Pearce (West Harbour School)
• Sports Leaders – Jaime Robinson (Waimauku School) and Cooper Meek (Waimauku School)
• Academic Leaders – Samara Lauchlan (Waitakere School) and Liam Taylor (Huapai District School)
• International Leaders – Shadman Amiry and Sergey Lazarev

Our Deputy Head Prefects for 2026 are:

Saphira Walder (Waimauku School) and Soni Kohinoa (Massey Primary School)

And our Head Prefects for 2026 are:

Sabine Mignault (Timatanga Community School) and Leonidas Pereira (Massey Primary School)

Our 2025 Head Prefects Ada Kim and Tiki Iti Atkinson summed up their time at Massey High School beautifully in their final addresses to the school. Both have been outstanding ambassadors for our school and exemplary Head Prefects.

We also acknowledged the retirement of four staff members – Chris Farrington, Sharon Noble, Jane Butcher, and Jacqui Crawford – all of whom have been a huge influence on countless students and teachers alike during their years of dedicated service to the Massey High School community.

Our prize givings require an enormous amount of planning and behind the scenes work – I’d like to thank Deputy Principal Hayley Garratt and our superb team of Elaine Curtis, Karen Bentley, Anna North, and Sharon Head.

NCEA Examinations commence this week. Our teachers have done all they can up to this point to best prepare students for these exams. The onus is now on students themselves – we ask that all students participating in exams make sure that they give their all, be on-time, be prepared, and leave each exam being able to say to their parents/caregivers that they did the best they possibly could.

For our Year 11 students, the message this morning at assembly was that school hasn’t yet finished – some will be required to continue to attend school over the coming days/weeks to complete assessments. Similarly, some of our Year 12 and 13 students should be in to work with teachers to complete assessments or ensure that resubmissions are lodged. For all, make the most of the support being offered.