Girls have dominated the selection of prefects for Apii Arorangi with eight receiving the badges of distinction from 12 inducted into leadership roles.

Apii Arorangi’s prefect investiture was held last Friday under Te Marae Ora Covid-19 rules – limited to 100 people and conducted outside the Aroanui hall. People were masked and sanitisation was firmly enforced.

School principal Mairi Heather said this year they have 12 student leaders where the girls outnumbered the boys, adding “this is something for the parents to reflect on …”

Head boy Derick Aerepo presented his acceptance speech in Reo Maori and English.

“Te pumaana nei te ngakau, ko kotou tei tuku mai i to kotou irinaki’anga ki roto iaku kia riro au ei Arataki ia tatou i teia tau mano ou.  Ka rave au i taku tu’anga kia tau ki taku i taputou na roto i te angaanga kapiti anga tatou ei meitaki no ta tatou apii.” (I am honoured to be selected as a prefect, I will do my best and my part together with our team for our school).”

Teraipoia Heather, the head girl, stated: “When I was assigned this role, I wasn’t sure whether I could live up to its expectations, however, as one of my personal challenges, I’m going to work extra harder, not worry about rewards, work in silence and let our successes make a noise and keeping dignified.”

“My biggest goal this year is to lead all of our Arorangi School students in the right direction while working closely with our teachers towards our individual goals, school goals and becoming a good role model for our younger students.”

Teraipoia older brother, Heath Heather, a former Apii Arorangi head boy, was invested as a student leader at Sacred Hearts Boys College in New Zealand.

Parents, community leaders, Ministry of Education Secretary Danielle Cochrane, Tinomana Tokerau Ariki, and Papa Orometua John Andrew were among those who attended the occasion as well as former Apii Arorangi student Vaipo Mataora (the 2021 Tereora College head boy) as the guest speaker.

The Apii Arorangi 2022 Student leaders are: Derick Aerepo, Head Girl Teraipoia Rose Heather, Deputy Head Boy Victoriano Anselmo, Deputy Head Girl Rimaongo Teiho, Boys Peter Simpson Jr, Ariki Kea Tekorona, Girls Lana Aperau-Toa, Joanne Nooroa, Maiva Glassie, Karleen Mokoha, Kurangi Murare and Hanalear Soatini.