HVHS Newsletter

Before the doors were opened to all, we gathered early on Tuesday morning for a formal blessing of the building. This ceremony ensured the space was grounded in safety, respect, and cultural purpose.

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the leadership team who guided us through this significant protocol. Thank you to Matua George, Matua Marty, Matua Paul, and students Kaitoro Walker (13JDPN), and Sam Worsley (13JDPN). Your leadership, care, and stewardship during the blessing provided the perfect foundation for C-Block's future.

For those who couldn't attend the official opening, here is a brief summary of my address:

"The opening of the new C-Block at Te Awakairangi is a profound moment of reclaiming our space, marking the end of an arduous journey that saw staff and students working in a leaking bunker like sieve and years of temporary learning environments, including a portacom village of learning. The new facility is a testament to the grit of the community and the dedication of many who became experts at 'making do'.

This C-Block is uniquely a building of Aotearoa New Zealand, inspired by the legend of Ngake, the formidable taniwha, and envisioned as a massive boulder with earthy, rustic colours. The design, led by the cultural expertise of former student Len Hetet and Kura Moeahu, also establishes a formal welcoming entrance and perfectly aligns with the wider urban revitalisation efforts in Lower Hutt, including the opening of Te Ara Tupua and the Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi programme.

The new design provides a creative heart for the kura, clustering specialist spaces for dance, drama, foods, and music at the school's centre to ensure that creativity, courage, and performance were not just add-ons. The building supports the school’s relational style of teaching by featuring warm, dry, single-cell rooms with sliding doors for collaboration. It is intentionally designed to be noisy, a hive of activity, and designed for movement, giving staff and students a place where they can truly belong after years of teaching in unsuitable conditions. Thanks to many for helping raise the building, from local officials and contractors to the Ministry of Education property team, and especially our incredibly patient and adaptable school staff and Property Manager, Simon Kydd, noting that "it takes a whole town to raise a building.

Thank you to everyone, our construction partners, staff, students, and families, who showed immense patience and support throughout this build. This is a win for our entire community".

With C-Block now fully operational, we are hitting the ground running into the winter term. Keep an eye out below for the upcoming parent/teacher interviews for Years 11-13.

It was fantastic to welcome Dr Claire Achmad (pictured below), the Children's Commissioner, to HVHS last week, as part of Youth Week. Dr Claire Achmad is a recognised advocate for children in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally, having worked in a wide range of areas relating to children's rights, including from legal, policy and practice perspectives. Our student leaders were fortunate to share ideas with Dr Achmad, and hear her speak about her work championing the aspirations and outcomes of children, rangatahi and whānau.

Ngā mihi manaakitanga,

Denise Johnson (Principal)

Tickets are now open for our major school production - Urinetown: The Musical! Seats are allocated, so book early to secure your spot! Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $10 for students.

👉 Click Here to Buy Your Tickets

Performance Dates & Times

• Tuesday, 30 June – 7.00pm
• Wednesday, 1 July – 7.00pm
• Thursday, 2 July – 7.00pm (Understudy Cast Performance)
• Friday, 3 July – 7.00pm
• Saturday, 4 July – 2.00pm (Matinee)

About Urinetown: The Musical
Urinetown: The Musical, is… well it’s a musical that takes place in a dystopian setting where, due to an immense drought, its townsfolk have to pay fees in order to pee, controlled by a money-hungry corporation. But we wouldn’t want to overload you with too much exposition, huh?

And before you scoff at its oddities, don’t worry, Urinetown’s already laughing at itself with jokes like “Wee-wee never fail.” But beyond its potty humour and absurd premise, Urinetown: The Musical, unveils itself with its political messages that also satirises the musical genre. From a gospel number to a climax that references Les Misérables, it dazzles at the same time as it depresses.

Bookings are now open for parent/teacher interviews for students in Years 11-13. Parents and caregivers can book interviews on Thursday, 11 June or Wednesday, 17 June from 8:30am to 4:30pm either in-person or online. Parent/teacher interviews are ten minutes long and focus on your student's academic progress and planning for their future success.

Book Now:

1. Please go to https://huttvalley.schoolpoint.co.nz/ and select ‘Login’.

2. Click on ‘Bookings’.

3. On the ‘My Bookings’ page, select ‘Book Time’.

4. Your student’s subject teachers are listed for Thursday, 11 June (scroll down for Wednesday, 17 June). Choose an available time slot for each teacher.

5. After clicking on your preferred time, you will be asked to confirm your booking type for an online or in-person meeting.

6. Review the information to ensure it is correct and click ‘Confirm Time’. A prompt will then confirm ‘Time Booked’.

7. Next, select ‘Close’ and continue booking parent/teacher interviews.

Subject Selections for 2027

Students in Years 9-12 will be able to start selecting their courses for 2027 once we have completed Course Selection Assemblies on Wednesday, 24 June. Students are encouraged to speak with their mentor teachers, deans, subject teachers and families while deciding which courses they would like to select. We will email instructions closer to the time.

For any questions on parent/teacher interviews or subject selections for 2027, please email Rob Everett (Deputy Principal) at rob.everett@hvhs.school.nz

Rockquest

Three HVHS bands are through to the regional finals:

• Triple O1 (Nicholas McKenzie (11MR) and Jesse Want (12NB).
• Dependency (Louis Harward-Atkinson - 11KV, Māui Holland-Waterson - 11GS, and Jed Stace - 11TU).
• Dude We're Screwed (Tristan Hotter - 13JDPN, Seth Houghton - 13PAFN, Tane Smith-Xavier - 13MTTH, and Stanley Strik -13LE).

Tangata Beats

Congratulations to 2 Point Auē, the band won second place at the 2026 Wellington Tangata Beats. The band features David Bryce (13LE), Anzhel Justo (12NS), Wayneramon Milo (13JDPN), Kevin Pietersz (13OH) and Arnawa Weerakkody (13WL).

Congratulations to Harriet Brown (9SHGA) for winning the Term 1 HVHS Reading Competition!

Students were given 25 reading prompts to complete over the course of the term, ranging across genres and categories. These prompts were varied in order to challenge them to branch out and explore beyond their usual reading comfort zones, and to celebrate reading in its many forms.

Well done to Harriet on her phenomenal effort, with a total of 25 different books read and submitted.

We're introducing a helpful free tool called PAROT that is particularly helpful for students studying NCEA Level 2 & 3 subjects, as it provides a quick summary of:

• Upcoming NCEA assessments due dates (see example below)
• NCEA credits to date
• Weekly attendance across the year there is a helpful tool called PAROT.

How to log in:

1. Click here to access PAROT.

2. Use the same email address you receive HVHS emails from.

3. Log in via Gmail, or click "Send me a magic link" if it is your first time logging in.

For any questions, please email Jon Nash (Deputy Principal) at jon.nash@hvhs.school.nz

We're seeking an Exam Centre Manager, starting 1 July, to run our NCEA and NZ Scholarship exams during November and December. This role is critical to ensuring the smooth and successful delivery of exams for all students, and works closely with the Principal's NZQA Nominee.

The Exam Centre Manager is employed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) on a fixed-term basis. There is also the potential for additional employment to supervise the school-run Literacy & Numeracy co-requisite testing in September.

Key requirements:

• High level of digital literacy e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, and the ability to navigate new online systems and processes.

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to follow processes accurately.

• Skilled at building rapport quickly with students, helping to ease their nerves (when required) and fostering a supportive environment.

• Confidence in leading and managing staff.

Role expectations:

• Be available to start on 1 July 2026 and work for the full exam period (November – December).

• Complete NZQA's Exam Centre Manager training.

• Oversee all administrative and operational aspects of the NZQA examinations.

• Ensure all processes and procedures are carried out in strict adherence with NZQA guidelines.

• Support and manage a team of exam supervisors.

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to Lana Goddard (Principals’ PA) at lana.goddard@hvhs.school.nz by 4:00pm, Wednesday 17 June 2026.

As part of our Centenary celebrations on Saturday, 8 August, we are bringing a bit of healthy rivalry back to the main gym! The Sports Office is looking for former HVHS students to lace up their sneakers for basketball and netball games against our current top teams.

The Game Day Lineup:

• Basketball Match: 11:00am, Main Gym

• Netball Match: 1:30pm, Main Gym

Don't worry if your fitness levels aren't quite what they were when you wore the school uniform, these games are all about fun, connection, and bragging rights. If you're keen to get involved please email Sarah Coales at sarah.coales@hvhs.school.nz

Need New School Trousers & Shorts?

From the start of 2027, all students will be required to wear the approved school trousers and shorts, which will only be available for purchase through the Resource Centre. If you need to purchase black trousers or shorts, we strongly recommend purchasing the correct ones from the Resource Centre now to avoid having to buy another pair at the start of next year.

Warmer Uniform Options for Winter

As the weather gets colder, the Resource Centre has a range of warmer items for students, including jackets with hoods ($75), scarves ($40), beanies ($20), and pom-pom beanies ($30). All items are in stock and available to purchase.

Resource Centre Opening Hours

The Resource Centre's opening hours are Monday to Thursday from 11:00am to 2:30pm, and it is closed on Fridays. Note - the Resource Centre is closed on King's Birthday (public holiday) on Monday, 1 June 2026.

The Resource Centre is located upstairs in the Library area. To visit, please enter through the School Office in the Main Administration Building and follow the signs to the Library. For any questions, please email resource.centre@hvhs.school.nz.

We are always looking for new host families to help with hosting international student attending HVHS. We have a large number of one-term students from Japan and Brazil arriving for Term 3.

If you are considering having an international student in your home, then this is a great way to find out if hosting works for your family and if you would like to host long term.

What's Required?

If your family:

• Can provide a welcoming and supportive environment,

• Has a spare bedroom available, and

• Lives in-zone (preferred).

We encourage you to consider becoming a homestay family. Homestay families receive $350 per week, and it is a wonderful opportunity to learn about diverse traditions, cultures, and languages while supporting a young person during their time in Aotearoa.

For more information or to express your interest, please email our Homestay Coordinator, Anna Kingsford, at anna.kingsford@hvhs.school.nz, and include a short bio about your family and a contact phone number.

Our Service Leaders, Hugh McWhinnie (13JDPN) and Izzy Fogarty (13JDPN) and the HVHS 2026 Relay For Life Team are fundraising hard - with $19,091 raised so far!

The HVHS team will be at the Relay for Life event this weekend on Saturday, 30 May and Sunday, 31 May at Hrny Stadium. Relay for Life is a community event to celebrate survivors, remembers those we’ve lost, and helps fight back against cancer by raising life-saving funds for the Cancer Society.

Make a donation: To help the HVHS team reach their target simply visit Relay for Life website to donate. All donations, big and small are greatly appreciated.

For any questions, please email Tim Fox (Deputy Principal) at tim.fox@hvhs.school.nz.

StudyLink

For seniors planning their next steps we recommend regularly checking the HVHS CareerWise website for upcoming presentations and new events. We have the team from StudyLink at HVHS running information sessions in early June. These sessions cover:

• Student Loans & Allowances: Understanding the difference and what they cover.

• Eligibility: Finding out what support students may be entitled to.

• Preparation: Identifying the documents required for future applications.

StudyLink Session Times (HVHS Library):

• Thursday 4 June: 9:00am

• Tuesday 9 June: 1:30pm

Enrolments for 2027 are now open for in-zone and out-of-zone applications. All enrolments are completed online.

We encourage families to enrol their child early. This helps us to plan for your student’s learning needs and ensures that your student will be in the first group to receive the email with subject selections (many subjects have limited spaces). For information on how to enrol and key enrolment deadlines please click here.

Congratulations to Sydney Jackson (13LE) and Māui Holland-Waterson (11GS), who competed at the Hip Hop Nationals over the weekend.

Both students dance for the Chilton Dance School and are members of the "Diesel" mega crew (pictured). The crew’s performances wowed the judges across the preliminary rounds, semi-finals, and the grand final.

Thanks to an exceptional performance in the finals, the crew has successfully qualified for the 2026 World Hip Hop Championships. They will travel to compete against top crews from over 20 countries in late October this year. Well done to Sydney and Maui, and all the best with the upcoming international competition!

Congratulations to Izzy Driscoll (12CP) who has been selected as one of just eight students from across the country to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at an upcoming Model United Nations (UN) conference. Izzy will travel to Perth, Australia, as part of the national delegation from 6–15 July.

After being shortlisted, Izzy completed an interview process last week. The selection panel noted they were highly impressed by her passion and advocacy, her insights into biodiversity and the collaborative energy she demonstrated throughout the conversation.

This international opportunity follows another recent achievement for Izzy, who was also appointed as a High School Ambassador for UN Youth NZ early last month. We wish Izzy the very best as she fundraises and prepares for her time in Perth.

The Music Department is on the search for keen junior students (Years 9-10) to pick up violin and viola lessons this term. We have instruments and spaces available and would love to welcome more students into lessons with Alex Vaatstra.

Currently there is space for 8+ junior students to join violin and viola lessons, and instruments are available to hire at $25 per term. Lessons are once a week on a Thursday for 30 minutes, lessons are scheduled to ensure students do not miss the same class time each week.

If you're interested or would like more information, please email Jhan Lindsay at music@hvhs.school.nz.

Australian National Youth Climbing Championships

Max Lepper (9RBTS) representing New Zealand, qualified for the finals in two events at the recent Australian National Youth Climbing Championships (pictured). In the Under 15 Male Lead category, Max secured a 7th-place finish overall. Additionally, Max completed in the finals in the Bouldering division.

Holly Meyer (12NB) also represented New Zealand at the Australian National Youth Climbing Championships in Ballina, competing in the Under 17 Female Bouldering category.

The event featured a field of 41 competitors, including two from New Zealand. Following a qualification round consisting of five climbs, Holly advanced to the finals alongside the top 10 climbers. In the final round, which required completing four bouldering climbs, Holly finished 6th overall, an amazing result.

Netball Representative Teams

Congratulations to these students who have been selected for Netball Hutt Valley Representative Teams:

• U16 Gold - Mackenzie Gwerder(11GS)
• U16 Green - Marly Karaha (11KV)
• U16 White - Gemma Gibson (11DS)
• U18 - Daisy Johnson (12CT) & Tess Gendall (13WR)

American Flag Football

Harper Edhouse (9GERA) and Ruby Thom (9SHGA) were invited by Rongotai College to join their school team and compete in the U15 Division at the Wellington Regional American Flag Football Competition, recently held at Petone Memorial. Their team placed 2nd overall.

Congratulations to Ruby Thom (9SHGA) who was selected into the New Zealand U15 team for American Flag Football and Charlie Edhouse (12NI) selected for the New Zealand U17 team.

Both Ruby and Charlie will now compete in Los Angeles in June at the 2026 American Flag Football Junior International Cup. This will be the first time ever that Junior Girls Flag Football is included at this event, as Flag Football works towards its Olympic Games debut in Los Angeles in 2028. We wish Ruby and Charlie all the best!

Image: Harper Edhouse (9GERA) & Ruby Thom (9SHGA)

Kia ora e te whānau,

We are writing in response to the sickening behaviour that we are hearing about from up north in Waikato and Auckland. Kids being hit by adults, referee abuse, and sideline fights are all in the news and are all abhorrent. I think now is a good moment to remind us all that we are there to watch and support our kids having fun playing the games they love with their friends.

We as a school value welcoming and kind behaviour as key to our culture. We expect that players and supporters alike will embody these values in the way we build players up and respect referees and the opposition. This is especially important when games are close or getting away from us. Our students are young girls and boys learning their craft, which requires patience and support from their loved ones. How we respond in these moments will be reflected by their behaviours on and off the field, on the day and after. We value sport in helping students to develop resilience and positive problem-solving as they persist through on-field tension.

All of the players are learning skills on the field. Along with game skills, they are learning about communication, and how to work the rules to their benefit. We are there to support them as they grow into athletes, and this means players from both teams. When we see an opportunity for growth, we encourage them into that rather than holding their error against them and their person.

Coaches and management teams are volunteers. Along with referees, we need to speak encouragingly, positively and optimistically when engaging with them. We need to demonstrate gratitude to them at all times to ensure that our students are able to play week in, week out.

I am sure that as we join you courtside and pitchside, we will hear our values as you cheer on our players, and support them as they use sport to grow into great people. We look forward to cheering on their successes with you. We want to lift our students up as they pursue their goals.

Ngā mihi nui

Rob Everett, Kristi Tia, Dan Mills & Noor Hatem

At HVHS we want every student to have the opportunity to learn and thrive. One of the ways we support this is by making sure students who arrive without breakfast or enough food for the day can access kai when they need it.

If you’re able to help, we are currently seeking donations of sandwich spreads, muesli bars and Up & Go breakfast drinks. Donations can be dropped directly to the School Office during term time, Monday to Friday, 8am–4pm. For any questions, you’re also welcome to email Claire Ross (Head of Wellbeing) at claire.ross@hvhs.school.nz. Ka nui te mihi.

Has your child achieved something amazing? We’d love to hear about and celebrate our students’ successes outside the classroom — whether in sport, music, speech, dance, or other activities.

If your child has a sporting achievement, please email the details to Kristi Tia (Sports Director) at sport@hvhs.school.nz. For all other achievements, contact Lana Goddard (Principal’s PA) at office@hvhs.school.nz.

A reminder to families that summer sports & class photos are ready to preview, download, and purchase.

Access Information

Please see the email sent from INphotography on 31 March or 4 May for access details. The access details are the same for both.

Happy viewing and for any questions, please contact INphotography by clicking here.

Come along to see the final products, enjoy the creativity on display, and celebrate the hard mahi our students have put into bringing their business ideas to life. Check out the details below.

The next Learning Community Hub event for migrant parents about subject selection will now be held on Monday, 22 June at 6.30pm in the staffroom. More details to follow in the next newsletter.

Friday 29 May

• Teacher Only Day (No classes for students)

• Relay for Life Fundraiser, Hnry Stadium (Formerly Sky Stadium)

Monday 1 June

• King's Birthday (Public holiday, school closed)

• Canterbury University - College House Presentation, 1:30pm-2:30pm, Library

• StudyLink Information Session, 9:00am-10:00am, Library

Tuesday 9 June

• Whanganui Sports Exchange
• StudyLink Information Session, 1:30pm-2:30pm, Library

• The Big Sing - Wellington Regional Festival, Michael Fowler Centre. Session times to be confirmed.

Thursday 11 June

• Parent/Teacher Interviews for Years 11-13 Families, Day 1 of 2 (No classes, all students learning from home)

Friday 12 June

• House Competition, 4-Way Volleyball, 1:30pm-2:15pm

Monday 15 June

• 🌈 Schools' Pride Week Aotearoa 2026, Runs until Friday 19 June

• Parent/Teacher Interviews for Years 11-13 Families, Day 2 of 2 (No classes, all students learning from home)

Saturday 20 June

• Rockquest Regional Finals, Great Hall, Massey University from 7pm

Monday 22 June

• NEW DATE - Learning Community Hub (On Subject Selection), HVHS Staffroom, 6:30pm-7:30pm

Tuesday 23 June

• Board Meeting, HVHS Boardroom, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Thursday 25 June

• Year 11 Market Evening, 4:00pm-6:00pm

• Hutt Fest, Walter Nash Stadium

Tuesday 30 June

• Urinetown: The Musical, Dress Rehearsal, HVHS Hall, 12:30pm-3:30pm
• Urinetown: The Musical, Performance, HVHS Hall, 7:00pm-9:00pm

• Urinetown: The Musical, Performance, HVHS Hall, 7:00pm-9:00pm

• Urinetown: The Musical, Performance, HVHS Hall, 7:00pm-9:00pm (Understudy Cast Performance)

• Last Day of Term 2
• Urinetown: The Musical, Performance, HVHS Hall, 7:00pm-9:00pm

Saturday 4 July

• Urinetown: The Musical, Final Performance, HVHS Hall, 2:00pm- 4:00pm (Matinee)

Monday 20 July

• First Day of Term 3

• Year 12 Production, Runs until Thursday 30 July

Friday 31 July

• 48 Hour Film Festival, Starts 7:00pm & Finishes on Sunday 2 August at 7:00pm

Thursday 6 August

• Whānau Hui, 6:00pm-8:00pm

Friday 7 August

• Students Learning From Home Day (No classes for Years 9-13)
• 100th Celebrations, Teachers, Staff and Board Members Reunion, HVHS Staffroom, 4:00pm-7:00pm

Saturday, 8 August

• 100th Open Day Celebrations, 10:00am-4:00pm
• Special Early Dinner for Alumni in the 1940s Decade & 1950s Alumni, HVHS C Block, 5:30-7:30pm

Tuesday 11 August

• Board Meeting, HVHS Boardroom, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Monday 17 August

• House Has Talent, Runs until Friday 21 August, HVHS Hall

Friday 21 August

• Wellington Tertiary Open Day

• Coaches & Managers Meeting for Winter Tournament Week, HVHS Staffroom, 6:00pm-7:00pm

• New Zealand Secondary Schools Winter Tournament Week Starts, Runs until Friday 4 September

• Common Assessment Activities (CAAs) for Level 1 Literacy & Numeracy Testing, Runs until Friday 11 September

Tuesday 8 September

• Hockey Prizegiving, HVHS Staffroom, 5:30pm-7:30pm

• Year 13 Production, Runs till Thursday 17 September, Week 1 of 2

Tuesday 15 September

• Board Meeting, HVHS Boardroom, 5:30pm-7:30pm

• Winter Sports Team & Duke of Edinburgh Photos, HVHS Hall
• Football Prizegiving, HVHS Hall, 5:30pm-7:30pm

• Year 13 Ball, Lower Hutt Event Centre, 7:00pm-11:00pm

Monday 21 September

• Basketball Prizegiving, HVHS Hall, 5:30pm-7:30pm
• Year 13 Production Continues, Runs until Thursday 24 September, Week 2 of 2

• Netball Prizegiving, HVHS Hall, 6:00pm-8:00pm

• Rugby Prizegiving, HVHS Hall, 6:00pm-8:00pm

Friday 25 September

• Last Day of Term 3

Monday 12 October

• First Day of Term 4
• Derived Grade Exams for Years 11-13 Start, Runs until Wednesday 21 October

Monday 19 October

• Derived Grade Exams for Years 11-13 Continue, Finishing on Wednesday 21 October

Monday 26 October

• Labour Day (public holiday, school closed)

• HVHS Premier Sports Awards, HVHS Hall, 6:30pm-8:30pm

• Hotuwaipara Awards, HVHS Hall, 6:30pm-8:30pm

• Last Day for Students in Years 12-13

• Tutorial Week Starts

• School Board Meeting, Boardroom, 5:30pm-7:30pm

• Last Day for Students in Year 11

• Enrolment Conversations Start for Year 8 Families
• Year 10 Productions Start, Classes Scheduled Across Two Week Period, Week 1 of 2

• NCEA & NZ Scholarship Exams Start, Running until Friday 4 December

• NCEA & NZ Scholarship Exams Continue, Running until Friday 4 December
• Year 9 Camps Start, Classes Scheduled Across Two Week Period, Week 1 of 2
• Year 10 Productions Continue, Finishing on Friday 20 November, Week 2 of 2

• Teacher Only Day - MOE Curriculum (No classes for students)

• Year 9 Camps Continue, Finishing on Friday 27 November, Week 2 of 2

• NCEA & NZ Scholarship Exams Continue, Running until Friday 4 December

• School Board Meeting, Boardroom, 5:30pm-7:30pm

• Big 10 Event (for Year 10 Students)
• Last Day of NCEA & NZ Scholarship Exams

• Year 11 Prizegiving, Lower Hutt Town Hall, 11:00am-12:00pm
• Year 12 Prizegiving, Lower Hutt Town Hall, 1:30pm-2:30pm
• Year 13 Graduation Prizegiving, Lower Hutt Town Hall, 6:30pm-9:00pm

• Last Day of Term 4 for Students in Years 9 & 10.

Email: office@hvhs.school.nz
Website: hvhs.school.nz
Location: Hutt Valley High School Woburn Road, Woburn, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Phone: 04 566 4584