Tauhara student leaders look ahead to 2026

Tauhara College head students for 2026 Maya Williams, Harrison Pool, Isaiah Apiti, and Angela Schur.

Tauhara College’s head students for 2026, Maya Williams and Harrison Pool and deputies Angela Schur and Isaiah Apiti feel it is good to already have the support of students, evidenced by winning through the selection process.

And as they all attended St Patrick’s Primary School… “we don't really have to do an ice breaker,” Harrison says.

“We know each other fairly well and our strengths and weaknesses, so hopefully we can just do the best for our school, be a positive influence.”

Having already been a waka leader this year, and on the student council and ball committee, Harrison is already fairly involved in student life.

It’s all good preparation for his future plans for getting into event management.

After Year 13 Maya wants a gap year and perhaps work at Camp America.

“And then I want to go into teaching, early childhood.”

The opportunities provided to them through the school had inspired them to want to give back, both said.

“I'm pretty lucky obviously with going to Japan (on a recent language trip),” said Harrison. “And as a waka leader, just getting to know lots of different students, but then also I've had past head students support me and help me get the best out of my schooling career here at Tauhara.”

Maya says this year’s head girl Aja Topless, who she danced with, had “definitely” helped and encouraged her to put herself forward.

“I've always wanted to be on the executive, but I've never really been good at public speaking, but being at Tauhara, I’ve had to speak in front of class… so that definitely got my courage up.”

Maya also plays netball and sees the head student role as encouraging involvement no matter someone’s ability.

“I like it when people are involved, especially during things like athletics… Even if I'm not good and I'm doing the long jump and just getting into the sand pit. I got the participation point, I'll take it.”

Harrison who has been on the Spirit of Adventure this year, enjoys the outdoors and is keen to see other students make the most of opportunities outside the classroom.

“But also, I play underwater hockey. I used to be a swimmer, so I know what it's like to be in quite an individual sport, so I'd like to support people that are in individual sports but also academics. We have a lot of lunchtime sports, so I'd like to get something similar for those guys who are academics.”

Angela and Isaiah, a skier, surfer and also an underwater hockey player, were also looking forward to the added responsibility they would be taking on next year.

Isaiah says it’ll be hard, “but a good challenge”.

Angela, a keen hiker and with a long involvement with Greening Taupō, is looking to complete her Duke of Edinburgh gold award next year having already completed bronze and silver.

She feels she is growing into a leadership role.

“Speaking in public is a lot easier now than it would have been for me in year nine. Even though, I'm not the most extroverted, I still feel like I'm a lot more confident than I was.”

Future study is leaning toward Earth science while for Isaiah it was possibly mechanical engineering or sports science.

In the meantime once all had completed their last exams they are eyeing up a week at Hillary Outdoors Coromandel along with their dean and the rest of the Tauhara College student executive.

“It will get us all connected and ready for next year. Because it's going to be a big year, a busy year,” said Harrison.