Art Exhibition September 2009

Central Leader August 2009

Onehunga put in the hard yards

By SCOTT MORGAN - Central Leader

SUCCESSFUL SEASON: The Onehunga High School first 15 girls rugby team, pictured with coach Dennis Matene, won the Auckland secondary schools tournament earlier this month.

Sporting glory is something Onehunga High School’s first 15 girls rugby team is basking in after being crowned Auckland secondary school champions.

The inexperienced side upset reigning champs Manurewa High School 10-7 in the dying minutes of the final earlier this month thanks to a penalty try.

"It was a very physical, tight game," Onehunga coach Dennis Matene says.

"Our kicking game kept them in their own half, so they had to run it out."

Onehunga were unbeaten during the eight-week competition, except for a 14-13 loss to Manurewa in round-robin play.

Matene says it’s only the second time the school has won a major championship in any premier sports division.

The first occurred when the girls rugby team won the same title in 2006.

"We’re all quite chuffed about it.

"The end of that game was one of the most satisfying moments in my coaching and teaching career."

Matene puts his side’s success down to the commitment they showed throughout the season.

"We had the edge because we did the hard yards and did things other schools wouldn’t do," he says.

This includes training on Friday night in preparation for a game on Monday and turning up for practice during the school holidays.

"They showed a real commitment to themselves and each other."

Captain Lai Sao Taliu says the win is particularly pleasing because many of the squad members had never played rugby before.

"There was a lot of inexperience. We had netball people and soccer girls. There was teamwork, communication and bonding throughout the year. We just wanted to come up and win it."

Community Spirit May 2009

 The Onehunga High School First XV received brand new jerseys and a three year sponsorship deal courtesy of Midas in Onehunga. Owner Grant Hodgson says it is part of his desire to give something back to the Onehunga community. Grant says he had been looking for a way to embrace the Onehunga community ever since he took over Midas three years ago; especially as most of his business comes from the local area. When he heard the school needed a sponsor for the First XV he says he jumped at the chance. Particularly as it was a way to do something for the youth of the area. As he says: “What better way to do it!”

Grant adds that he was also keen to make a long term commitment to the school “…because we are not here for five minutes, so we did a three year deal.” In fact he says his only regret is that he could not afford to sponsor the entire programme. He also promises to be on the sidelines cheering the school on as much as possible over the coming season. Team coach James Bentley, Captain Sainila Tagi and First Five Kali Hala visited Midas last month to thank Grant and wife Sharon personally for their generosity. Sainila saying how grateful everyone was to have such positive support. As a result of the sponsorship, Sharon is giving even more to the school’s sport programme, becoming coach of the Year 9 Netball team.

Article and Photo Courtesy of Tim Plant, Onehunga Community News.

 Services Academy Star April 2009

Jackson Tamaariki - Campbell from the Services Academy is the New Zealand Waka Ama Under 19 Boys 250m sprint Champion following his success in the National Waka Ama championships in Rotorua this week.

Central Leader Fri March 20 2009

They may not have any Samoan ancestry, but Tayla and Vienna Frost are preparing to dance the sasa at an Auckland cultural festival.

The pair will perform today at the Manukau Sportsbowl as part of Onehunga High School's Samoan cultural group entry to ASB Polyfest, the largest Maori and Pacific Islands cultural festival in the world.

The annual festival for secondary schools brings together more than 9000 students from up to 60 schools throughout Auckland and attracts more than 80,000 spectators.

Tayla decided to join the group because it's her last year at school and the event's theme "many cultures, one world" appealed to her.

"I decided that I wanted to get involved because everyone gets excited by Polyfest and I wanted to be a part of it too."

The 16-year-old helped convince younger sister Vienna to take part as well.

"People didn't expect us to join or take an interest in another culture but it's been great to learn about their dances like the sasa and the ma'ulu'ulu.

"Even though people have been surprised, they've also been really supportive," says Tayla.

Pronunciation and the graceful hand movements have challenged Tayla but she says she has learnt more than she expected and is looking forward to performing.

"It's been really cool learning about Samoan culture. They pride themselves on their modesty. I'm going to miss it when it ends."

Vienna was initially too shy to join because she had missed the first practices but plenty of persuasion from Tayla and friends helped her overcome her fears.

The 14-year-old has not been disappointed but says she is still nervous about getting the moves right.

"It's been fun learning something new. There have been lots of good times and good memories."

Daily practice means students are ready to compete today, along with 181 other cultural groups from across Auckland.

Polyfest officially opened on Wednesday with kapa haka, and speech competitions. Stage performances continue until the festival closes tomorrow at 5pm.

Entry is $3, children under five are free.

Article By Carly Tawhiao

Pofiafia Photos March 2009

Onehunga Community News March 2009

National Honours

Onehunga High School pupil Aiden Eustace is set to represent New Zealand for the first time as part of the New Zealand Invitation Ministock team; which will be taking on the Aussies at Waikaraka Park Speedway on March the 21^st.

 Aiden will be part of a 6 member teamof young drivers , one of whom must be a girl, from all over New Zealand that will face an Aussie team over three races in one night; in an annual event that alternates between the two countries. They will be racing in the Ministocks, which are specially limited vehicles designed for drivers between 12 and 17 years old. At 14 Aiden is the youngest member of the New Zealand team and he is only in his second year of racing.

 Ministocks are limited to a maximum 1,200 cc engine and only produce around 40 horsepower; they also have a number of other regulations designed to make them as safe as possible. However they are still not for the faint-hearted. They can reach speeds of up to 100 kph and drivers are allowed to bump against each other as they race. And with 12 cars on the small Waikaraka track, it is virtually impossible to avoid the occasional ‘shunt.’

 Even though the races are only over 8 or 10 laps they are still very physical; especially as, much to Aiden’s annoyance, they do not have power steering. Aiden says at the end of the races they will be exhausted and their arms aching from the effort of keeping the car on the track round the corners.

 While some parents may baulk at letting teenagers loose in the cauldron of Stockcar races, Aiden’s father Kerry disagrees. He says the tightness of the racing teaches the kids to be very aware of their surroundings and to keep looking all around. They also learn to handle a car, and when to change gears in a contained area. So by the time they start driving on roads they have already mastered the basic skills of car control and traffic awareness, making them more confident and safer than most new drivers.

 This months races are just the start for Aiden, next year the same team will head off to Western Australia, where he will get his first taste of oversea’s competition.

Article and Photo Courtesy of Tim Plant, Onehunga Community News.

First Kiwi Silverware

 High Jumper and Onehunga High School pupil Ross Walker-Smart has only been in New Zealand for three months, but he has already picked up his first piece of Kiwi silverware; literally.

 Despite only managing a couple of training sessions since arriving from England with his family late last year, Ross won the High Jump Silver Medal at the Secondary Schools National Athletics Championships in January. Jumping his personal best of 1.93 metres.

 And he was only getting started. Having been selected in the Auckland team for the National Athletics Championships next month, where he will compete in the under-16 age group. Not bad for someone he says he is still finding his feet in New Zealand competitions.

 Ross does bring a real pedigree with him, having been the British Indoor and Outdoor champion for his age group. Auckland Athletics coach Bish McWatt is also impressed, saying he is technically the best jumper in the current crop of young athletes.

 Having got his first taste of New Zealand competition Ross says his next goal is to do well and the championships and hopefully also get over 2 metres for the first time.

 The move to New Zealand has proved easier than Ross had expected it to be, although he admits his introduction to Auckland’s summer humidity was something of a shock; having never experience such weather in his home town of Nottingham, let alone had to train in

such conditions.

 Article and Photo Courtesy of Tim Plant, Onehunga Community News.