The placing of a korowai on a person is a significant way of honouring them and acknowledging who they are and what they have achieved.
For the last two years Te Uira Kerehoma and Sue Tucker have been weaving a korowai which is unique for Horowhenua College. Both Te Uira and Sue have significant ties to Horowhenua College so their weaving of the korowai was with a very real connection to our history and the important role the college plays in growing successful young men and young women. We are so thankful to Te Uira and Sue for their love for our college and the work they have put into creating this beautiful taonga. It will be treasured for many years to come and will be a significant feature at prize-givings and special events.
Significant features on the korowai include the fleur de lis which is the French symbol of a lily and represents all things good and worth striving for. Woven around the hem are the colours which represent the four college houses- Rata (red); Ngaio (green); Hinau (white); Kowhai (yellow). These houses have been in existence since the college was established in 1940.
Our korowai has been named ‘Kia Kaha’ which means ‘Be strong’. This relates directly to our college motto- ‘Essayez’ which means ‘To strive’. Essayez refers to being the type of person who will give everything a go and to the very best of your ability, and if or when you fall on your face… you don’t give up but instead you get up, dust yourself off, learn from your mistakes… and try again.
To have a korowai that represents all of this is a real privilege. When we place Kia Kaha on someone we are acknowledging in a special way the significance of their achievement as well as the positive and courageous attitude they have shown to reach this achievement.
The first person to have Kia Kaha placed on him was Jotham Harris who was named Dux at the 2017 Senior Prize-giving. For this very first occasion it was Te Uira and Sue who placed Kia Kaha on Jotham’s shoulders.