The first edition of a college tradition
Horowhenua proud to be winners of Keretana Trophy
Traditions in schools are those things that have taken place for year. It was originally an idea which, when implemented, was so well received that it continued to be done and has been done every year since.
We have a number of traditions at Horowhenua College — our values (the NUA Way), our colour (whero, red), our house competitions, assemblies, sports exchanges, powhiri, camps, haka and our Prefect uniform … the list goes on.
Every now and then a new tradition begins and last week, this happened at our college. Of course, it doesn’t become a tradition until it has been done for a number of years, but this is our intention.
I am referring to a pre-season game of 1st XV rugby between Horowhenua College and Te Aute College. Last year we were hosted by Te Aute College and our 1st XVs met for the first time. It was so successful that we proposed to host the return match this year. This took place last week. Two games were played — the U15 game being the curtain raiser for the 1st XV game.
Te Aute College is a proud Ma¯ori boys’ college in Pukehou (Central Hawke’s Bay). Established in 1854, it is one of NZ’s oldest colleges. Over the years, Te Aute College has, on numerous
occasions, won rugby’s trophy for top 1st XV in NZ. It is an amazing college with proud traditions and achievements.
As I said, traditions start from an idea and this idea came from our Matua Chris Wilton and Te Aute’s Dr James Graham. Both men are very involved in rugby at their college and they know each other well. What they also agreed on was to provide a trophy for this traditional 1st XV game. This taonga was introduced at the powhiri when the Te Aute students and staff arrived at our college last week. The trophy is called the Keretana Trophy, and became the focus for the entire day. This taonga not only represents the winning of a
rugby game it also represents the total commitment and focus needed to successfully prepare for a rugby game, and how this relates to how we prepare for life beyond school.
This taonga will be hard fought for in the years ahead. Our intention is that this will become a tradition at NUA and will be a fond memory for many of our rugby players for many years.
This year’s 1st XV rugby players also have the added memory that they were the very first to play for it. Oh — and the score — 27-24 to Horowhenua College! So for the next 12 months, the Keretana Trophy sits proudly in our college.
Nga mihi, Tofa soifua, Kind regards.