Photo Catch Up: 

This has been a very busy week so I am sharing photos and a few brief explanations.

At the end of last year, I was invited to be a guest presenter at Henderson Intermediate School.

In addition to those duties, I took the opportunity to acknowledge their awesome Principal, Wendy Esera.

This is what I said:

Kia Ora Koutou Before I fulfil my role here tonight, I would like to take the opportunity to say just a few words. First - thank you so much, Wendy, for the opportunity to be here and share in this very special occasion honouring the awesome young men and women who are graduating tonight. Second - Wendy, you are my favourite principal out of all the principals who are not my wife. Third - you’re not meant to have favourites, but Henderson Intermediate is definitely one of my absolute favourite intermediates. 

I always feel so pleased and proud when I know our Western Height treasures are coming to you to be loved and nurtured. 

Finally - and if I’m not quick about this, I won’t get invited back - I would like to tell you a story, Wendy and Henderson Intermediate. I am always on the lookout for Pounamu. Sometimes I have a special person and purpose in mind, and when I find the right piece, it brings joy. Sometimes a piece will call to me and say - pick me, and be patient; my time will come. 

Once I kept a piece safely tucked away for twelve years before it went to a wonderful lady from the USA. Another piece I kept for five years before it found its owner in Pene Pati from Solo Mio. Pene wore it when he performed in Teatro dell'Opera di Roma - the Rome Opera House. 

Tonight I have a piece that called to me, also about five years ago. It is not a piece I would typically purchase - for several reasons - and yet I did. Tonight it will go to its home - with Wendy. It is a heart - a big heart - and it is appropriate because it goes to someone with a very big place in all our hearts. To someone who is ALL about heart. Whose heart is so big because it is full of love, goodness and giving. Wendy, please receive your taonga - presented with love, admiration and appreciation.

Kiara and Sara presented me with their awesome project on Chinese New Year. It was beautifully crafted - Sara is a gifted artist.

Manhala, Neisha and Sasha also shared their wonderful Chinese New Year work with me.

Proud family - first day at school.

Kishan shared this story:

Here is my writing about the Blues and Jason Mamoa.

This all started because I made a deal with my Mum. The deal was that if she could arrange for me to meet my favourite rugby player, Caleb Clark, I would let her give me a haircut whenever she wanted to.

My Mum spotted on Facebook that the Blues were playing the Hurricanes at Waitemata {my rugby club}.   We headed down to the club on Saturday morning. I was feeling excited.  First, we spotted Akira Ioane and asked him to sign my blues t-shirt, and he was really nice. I really wanted to see Caleb Clark soooo much then I spotted him talking to someone and I ran to see him but I got shy so I asked my sister Meela to call out his name. I could not believe I was meeting him. He signed my t-shirt, and we took a photo.

After we chilled for a bit watching the Blues play, my mum said she had to go to the bathroom and when she got out, my friend Triton's dad told her Jason Momoa was in the clubroom.  She took a photo with him and when she told us we went running to find him. We got his autograph. It was amazing.

We spent the rest of the day asking for autographs and meeting the players. The day was brilliant.

We sadly farewelled our two international students from South Korea last week. They were fine boys and fitted in beautifully.