Congratulations to our Newly Elected Student RepresentativeCongratulations to Mahant Agrawal, who has been elected our new Board Student Representative. Mahant Agrawal is a positive and enthusiastic Year 12 student. Experiences preparing him for this important role include being Youth MP of the Mount Roskill Electorate, where he represented all the youth in Mount Roskill at Parliament earlier this year, and extracurricular activities such as Hockey, Chess, Debating, and Robotics. |
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Congratulations to our Newly Elected Board Members
Following the elections which closed at 4.00 pm on Wednesday 10 September, the results of the 2025 School Board elections were announced on Tuesday 16 September. Congratulations to the following nominees, who were elected to a three-year term:Sarah Fleming, Linda Potauaine, Maria Foy, Melanie North and Zahir Ahmed
The Lynfield College School Board wishes to thank all those nominees who stood in our School Board elections and who put themselves forward to support the Lynfield College community. We greatly appreciate your willingness and hope that you will remain involved.
We must also thank those board members whose terms ended: Luke Jackson, Geetika Aulakh, John Maka, Ravi Nyayapati and Kristelle Varney. We are very grateful for the considerable time, expertise, support and enthusiasm you gave to the School Board, and especially to Lynfield College.
The new Board will have its first meeting on Monday 10 October 2025.
This link takes you to the official results: Declaration of Results 2025
Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori - Kapa Haka Performance
| Kapa haka performed at St Lukes for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori in the last week of Term 3. Tau 9 Akonga Safia Noor and Nika Reihana of Pounamu created a highlight reel of all of the activities from Te wiki o Te Reo Māori. From Paraoa Parai to Ki o Rahi students v staff, Reo Māori Kahoot, Rakau, staff quiz we had an awesome week celebrating!
Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori Activities Week at Lynfield College Ka nui te mihi ki nga akonga, kaiako, me nga whanau I tautoko I nga kaupapa o te wiki.KIA KAHA TE REO MĀORI |
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Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 2025
This September is the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) from 14 – 20 September 2025. The week grew from a single ‘Māori Language Day’ set up in 1972. The seeds of a full week dedicated to te reo Māori were planted in 1974. By 1975 Te Wiki had found its footing and was off! Its growth and gains are what we celebrate 50 years on.
Every year since 1975 New Zealand has marked Māori Language Week. This is a time for all New Zealanders to celebrate te reo Māori (the Māori language) and to use more Māori phrases in everyday life. In 2024 Māori Language Week runs from 14–21 September and the theme is ‘Ake ake ake – A Forever Language’.
Te reo Māori is undergoing a resurgence and more people speak the language. There are Māori-language schools, Māori radio stations and a Māori television channel. There was a time when some people objected to hearing Māori greetings such as ‘Kia ora’. The campaign to revive the language has been a long one.
The future of te reo Māori was the subject of a claim before the Waitangi Tribunal in 1985. The tribunal’s recommendations were far-reaching. Māori became an official language of New Zealand in 1987. Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori was established in the same year to promote te reo. Along with the Human Rights Commission and Te Puni Kōkiri, it plays a key role in the annual Māori Language Week.
The struggle for the survival of te reo Māori is told on the Stories of te Reo website. It is the first time a timeline of this sort has charted the pivotal moments in the assaults on and revitalisation of our indigenous language.
Lynfield Students Climbing High in the Holidays
Over the school holidays, a number of our students took part in short courses to explore potential career pathways and gain some real life experience.
Liam Stuart, Seamus Mohally-Sheehan, Charlie Harris, and Galaxy Karepa-Ross — attended an Adventure Short Course run by the International Travel College of New Zealand. The programme gave them the chance to connect with professionals in the adventure tourism industry and learn about the responsibilities, safety standards, and teamwork involved in this field. The highlight of the course was the chance to complete the Auckland Harbour Bridge climb, followed by a bungee jump — a nerve-racking yet exhilarating experience for some of them! All four students successfully completed the course, developing confidence and practical insight into adventure tourism as a career option.
In addition, several other Year 12 and 13 students also completed a two-day Customer Service and Communications course at the same College. This experience provided valuable knowledge and practical skills that will serve them well in both employment and tertiary study. Students also earned up to seven Level 3 NCEA credits through their participation.
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International Student Leads Origami Workshop at New Lynn Library
One of our International Students, Kokomi Saito (Japan) led an origami workshop at the New Lynn War Memorial Library, supported by other International Japanese students Hanna Inoue, Sae Tochigi, Riria Seki, and Nanami Hori. Together, they invited children (and even some adults!) to join in and learn the art of origami.
Most of the participants were children between the ages of 3 and 10, and the students did a fantastic job supporting them one-on-one. It was wonderful to see the participants not only enjoy the activity but also develop an interest in Japanese culture.
Kokomi worked hard preparing for this event, and it was a great success. We are proud of her initiative and of the teamwork shown by all the students who helped make the workshop such an engaging cultural experience for the community.
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A Buzzing Visit for 9IL
On Thursday 4 September, as part of our sustainability studies this term, we were lucky to host Ken Brown from the Auckland Bee Society, who shared his knowledge about the importance of bees in keeping our ecosystems thriving.
Ken arrived fully kitted out in his beekeeper suit and brought along a real beehive (without the bees!) for students to explore. He explained how bees work together, their vital role in pollination and food production, and even shared some of their more humorous and quirky behaviours.
The visit gave students a deeper appreciation of how important bees are for both our environment and everyday lives, linking perfectly to our current classroom learning. It was a truly engaging session that left students buzzing with new knowledge! http://www.aucklandbeekeepersclub.org.nz
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Assessment / Exam Weeks
Weeks 8 and 9 were an extremely busy time for our Year 12 and 13 students as they sat derived grade practice exams or attended practical assessment workshops. Practice exams give students an opportunity to identify gaps in their learning before the external NCEA exams in November. Most students were well organised and prepared. However, this is a timely reminder that students need to arrive 10-15 minutes before an exam begins, ensure they have all the equipment they require (including a charged laptop if sitting a digital exam) and follow the instructions given by supervisors. NZQA have very strict rules around exams and students can potentially lose grades if they are caught breaching assessment rules.
Note: A derived grade is only provisional and can only be applied for should a student have a valid reason. The final decision is one NZQA makes and is only confirmed in January when results are released.
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International Students Visit Piritahi Marae, Waiheke Island
On Tuesday 2 September, our international students had the wonderful opportunity to visit Piritahi Marae on Waiheke Island. The day began early with a journey by bus, train, and ferry.
At the marae, the students were warmly welcomed with a pōwhiri, where Giorgio Guicciardi (Italy) proudly spoke on behalf of his peers and Lynfield College. Throughout the morning, students deepened their understanding of Māori culture, traditions, and the history of the marae. A particular highlight was learning two new waiata and an action song, which they embraced with great enthusiasm.
In the afternoon, the group explored Waiheke Village, enjoying a short walk through the local shops and soaking up the island’s relaxed atmosphere before making their way back to Auckland.
The trip was a wonderful blend of learning, fun, and cultural connection.
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Chinese Language Week 2025
New Zealand Chinese Language Week is a Kiwi-driven initiative launched in 2014 by Chair Jo Coughlan and Raymond Huo. NZCLW is designed to increase Chinese language learning in New Zealand. The first of its kind in any Western country, NZCLW seeks to bridge the cultural and linguistic knowledge gap between China and New Zealand by delivering fun and practical initiatives that assist Kiwis to learn Chinese.
Now a popular event in the national calendar, we have many communities involved including school children, government officials, politicians (including the past three Prime Ministers), and business owners. If you would like to support us or be involved in the Week, please do not hesitate to get in touch!
Introducing the 5 Days, 5 Phrases Challenge 2025
From 1 September, NZCLW will be sharing a new phrase each day in Mandarin and Cantonese. Join in for your chance to win some awesome prizes:
Post yourself saying the daily phrase across the five days for a chance to win prizes.
Tag #5Days5Phrases2025 or Follow @nzchineselanguageweek