Pānui from WSCW-NPoW Board Hui #7 (9 Nov 2026)

At our hui on Monday 9th November (Mtg 7), the Board welcomed our two new student representatives, Mary Folau and Ethan Stuart-Harrison. Thank you for stepping into the mighty shoes of Jojo Lewis and Milan Moala.

In something of a baptism of fire, they heard a significant discussion around our finances. We have a large deficit for 2026, driven by roll numbers impacting our staff funding, property costs and by a huge rise in relief teacher costs this year.

Fortunately ours is a well-managed school and we have very substantial cash reserves. However, the Board is determined that we will not repeat this year’s deficit and a stringent budget review process for 2027 is underway.

Some major property work is also underway, with a tender for the refurbishment of Te Whakamanu (the old gym) and work soon to begin – we hope – on replacing the floor of Waiōrea’s Te Rehu building.

We heard from our amazing Learning Centre and Learning Support team, with Pella Perston and Jess Sinclair updating us on their work. They are seeing a huge rise in the number and complexity of issues facing our young people.

Something that is not rising? Our senior school attendance figures! They were strikingly down this term, despite the huge efforts of the staff to engage our students. One factor we are seeing is students taking up paid work.

Congratulations to Pā Chris Selwyn, Tumuaki of Waiōrea. During 2027, he will undertake Canterbury University’s Master of Hōaka Pounamu | Māori Bilingual and Immersion Teaching and Learning. Watch this space for news on who will step into the role next year, until Pā Chris’s return.

Finally, please have your say on our draft strategic plan. This short google form will take two minutes of your life and will help to shape what we do at Springs-Waiōrea.

Ngā mihi nui,
Western Springs College | Ngā Puna o Waiōrea Board