Whakatāne High School - Te Kura Tuarua ō Te Mānuka Tūtahi

18/06/2026

15/06/2026

Last week, the Year 10 Japanese class took their learning beyond the classroom with a visit to the Whakatāne Judo Club 🥋.

The word judo (柔道, jūdō) literally translates to “the gentle way.” Founded in 1882 by Japanese educator Jigoro Kano 👨‍🏫, Judo has been an Olympic sport since the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 🏅🇯🇵.

After warming up 🏃‍♂️🧘‍♀️, students learned how to breakfall, known as ukemi (受け身) 🤸. As Judo involves throwing opponents onto tatami mats, learning how to land safely is an essential skill for all judoka (柔道家).

The class then learned O-Goshi (大腰), or the Hip Throw 💪🌀, a technique where the thrower lifts their opponent onto their hip before executing the throw. It was fantastic to see students quickly pick up the technique and have a great time practising safely on the crash mats 😄.

To finish the session, students were introduced to newaza (寝技), or groundwork, focusing on osaekomi-waza (押さえ込み技) — hold-down and pinning techniques 🤼.

This special EOTC experience enriched our students’ understanding of not only the Japanese language 🗣️ but also the rich culture and traditions behind it 🎎.

A huge thank you 🙏 to Mr Kevin Mackey, Chief Judo Instructor at the Whakatāne Judo Club, for sharing his knowledge and expertise with our students, and to Mr Patton for joining the trip 👏

15/06/2026

Recently, a group of students had the opportunity to visit Rotoehu Forest as part of a Discovery Forestry experience. 🌲🚜

The trip provided students with an authentic insight into harvesting operations, allowing them to hear directly from industry experts and observe forestry work up close. 🌿👷‍♂️👷‍♀️ Students were fascinated by the scale of the machinery 🚜 and gained a greater understanding of the many career pathways available within the forestry industry. 🌲

Our students were outstanding throughout the day. They embraced the experience, stepped outside their comfort zones, asked thoughtful questions, and showed a genuine interest in the work being carried out on site. Their curiosity and engagement made the visit both rewarding and worthwhile. 👏🙌

A huge thank you to the Brolly Logging crew for taking time out of their busy mahi to ensure our students could safely get up close to the machinery and learn more about the industry. 🚜🦺 We are incredibly grateful for their generosity, knowledge, and willingness to share their expertise. 💚

Special thanks also to John Hutchings and Dana from Kaingaroa Tipu, and Lara Meyer from Discovery Forestry New Zealand, for helping make this valuable learning opportunity possible. 🌟🤝🌲

14/06/2026

14/06/2026

The School Lunch Collective has an exciting new meal coming out this Thursday. Don't miss out!

13/06/2026

A group of students travelled to Tauranga this week to take part in the Young Enterprise Scheme, where they had the opportunity to pitch their small business ideas. Everyone did an amazing 👏 job presenting and showcasing the hard work they have put into their businesses.

The experience gave students the chance to hear a range of innovative ideas💡 , receive valuable feedback to help improve their products, and learn more about entrepreneurship. Overall, it was a fun, rewarding, and successful day that everyone enjoyed. 🤝

12/06/2026

𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 🩸
🤝 A huge congratulations and thank you to Deputy Head Girl Trista Baker for organising yesterday’s successful blood drive. This student-led initiative was a fantastic achievement, with more than 50 students and staff members rolling up their sleeves to donate blood and help save lives.

Thank you to everyone who participated and supported the event. It was great to see our school community coming together to make a real difference.

11/06/2026

Nice work ladies!

11/06/2026

𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝟵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁
Our Year 9 students had the opportunity to spend the day at Wairaka Marae this week, taking part in a range of learning activities outside the classroom. The visit gave students the opportunity to learn more about the stories of Ngāti Awa and the Mātaatua waka, and explore how these connect to our school, Te Kura Tuarua o Te Mānukatūtahi.

👏 A big mihi to the staff who contributed to the day and helped make it such a positive experience for our students. 🤩

Our student leaders were excellent throughout the day, leading by example and guiding our Year 9 students through the different activities and workshops. The Te Ao Haka students shared their knowledge and skills, while our Prefects provided great support and helped ensure the day ran smoothly.

A special thank you to Ngāti Hokopū and Te Wharepāia, for welcoming us onto the marae and sharing your stories with our students. We are grateful for your hospitality and support in making this such a valuable experience for our Year 9s. 🖤💛🤍