PMv isi tb est thing since sliced cake
Canterbury schoolgirl Aavya Pandya celebrated her sixth birthday by having cake with the prime minister.
Aavya, who was one of five pupils to join Jacinda Ardern in the Birthday Room at Te Ro¯hutu Whio School in Rolleston, said the morning was ‘‘fun’’.
Ardern turned 42 last week and was invited for hot chocolate and cake during her visit to officially open the school yesterday.
The school, which has been operating since the start of the year, was built to help meet demand in one of Canterbury’s fastest growing areas.
Rolleston is the largest town in the Selwyn district, west of Christchurch, and its population is expected to reach 18,000 by 2025.
The overall district is now home to at least 73,600 people, according to Stats NZ.
In the year to June 2021, its population is estimated to have grown by 4.8%, more than any other area nationwide for that period.
Te Ro¯hutu Whio School, which can cater for 400 students up to year 8, was built on land the
Government bought for $3 million within the Acland Park subdivision.
It’s the sixth primary school to open in Rolleston, after Lemonwood Grove School opened in 2017.
The town’s high school, Rolleston College, opened in 2017 and reached 1316 students in just five years.
Last year, the Government announced it had bought land for a second campus, expected to open in 2025.
When Ardern heard funky socks were part of the uniform at Te Ro¯hutu Whio, she was determined not to be left out.
Students are allowed to wear vibrant socks to express their individualism and the prime minister donned a pair of yellow socks with bees on them, proudly rolling up her trouser leg to show them off.
‘‘I normally only wear these in the house,’’ she told pupils.
News of Ardern’s visit was only revealed to excited students yesterday morning. Year 4 pupil Sophia Rollo, 9, said meeting Ardern was a dream come true.
‘‘I’ve always dreamed of meeting the prime minister – it was fun’’
Misha Pletnyakov, 10, said Ardern had a good sense of humour ‘‘and her smile was nice’’.