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Newsletter ~ 2 July, 2026
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From the Principal
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Tēnā Koutou Katoa e ngā Whānau o Te Kura o Te Waipapa,
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Difficult to comprehend that this week I wrap up my 11-week sojourn to this glorious part of the world. Suffice it to say, time has moved at a rapid pace, and now I will be sad to say goodbye on Friday. This week I have been reflecting back at our Kura and also looking forward.
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All schools go through ebbs and flows of growth and development, and I am confident DHS is well positioned to continue to grow and develop, due to our tamariki, staff, whānau and Board of Trustees. We have a number of factors that contribute to this, and as an outsider coming in, it is noticeable. Our tamariki are settled and motivated learners. When I visit classrooms, the level of engagement in learning is very high, and this flows through to the playground, where they engage in creative play. We have a very stable and experienced Teaching and support staff that provides continuity, security and expertise. Our Teachers are motivated to continue learning and responding to the myriad of changing curriculum and assessment changes. Our whānau are very invested in our Kura, evidenced by the support we see at community events, and the number of people who drop in at the beginning and end of each day. Our BOT are highly invested in continuing to make our Kura the best version of itself that it can possibly be. Your BOT are highly aspirational and has a commendable approach to the development of our Kura.
When I first met Henry, he spoke about ensuring a foundation was in place for the new Tumuaki to grow and build from. I firmly believe we have that foundation and that our Kura is well positioned for Richard to grow and develop into the future, and that Richard is the right person to do this.
Finally, I want to thank you all for putting up with me! This is my first short-term temporary placement as Principal, and I must admit to struggling to leave after such a brief time, and I will be keeping a keen eye on Diamond Harbour School in the future.
I am also looking forward to getting back to Nelson/ Pākawau and to meet my new Grandson!
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Mihi Whakatau Te Kura o Te Waipapa
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Nau mai, haere mai ki te mihi whakatau hei whakatau i tō tātou tumuaki hou, a Richard Goodyear.
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It gives us great pleasure to invite you to this very important event to welcome our new Tumuaki Richard Goodyear.
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Time: 10.30am
Meeting place:
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Manawhenua (DHS Community): Must be seated in Te Kete by 10.15am
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Message from Richard
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I hope this message finds you well.
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I wanted to reach out and say hello and to let you know how excited I am to be joining the Diamond Harbour School community. I am really looking forward to getting started and to meeting you and your tamariki in the early weeks of next term. I hope to see many of you at the mihi whakatau on 20 July. It will be a wonderful opportunity to begin getting to know one another.
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My focus in the early weeks will be to listen, learn, and gain a deep understanding of what makes this school and community so special. I'm looking forward to hearing from students, staff, and whānau as I settle into the role. Currently I’m still up in Wellington where I have been in an acting role for term 2. I’ve been living on my boat which has been exciting in the wild weather we’ve been having!
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Thank you for the warm welcome I've already received from the Board, the staff and a few of you who I have bumped into around the village or over in Lyttelton.
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And a special thanks to Hugh, Gabrielle, Phillipa and Karen S. for all the hand-over chats and documents so far. I know there’ll be more of this over the holidays!
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UC Rockets
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On Tuesday, the 23rd of June, the school got a special visit from some Students from the University of Canterbury. They showed us how to build a rocket whilst giving us individual tips and advice. It was nice being taught by some younger people for a change, because they got some jokes that the other teachers would frown at. We started by getting into teams and sitting down at tables. We were then told what would happen with the rockets and shown the large one that they had made out of metal. It was around 2 and a half meters tall.
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We soon got to work on our rockets. We started by glueing MDF tail fins on the base of a cardboard tube and attached a motor holder to the inside of the tube so it could fly properly. We then guided a piece of rope through the tube and out the outside and attached a bunch of streamers to it that would act like a parachute. Finally, we all chose a differently shaped 3d printed streamlined cap for the front.
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The idea is that the fumes from the motor build up inside the tube, forcing the cap off and deploying the streamers for a relatively safe descent. We then all went out onto the field and took it in turns to prep our rocket on the launch pad and run for cover before clicking a remote and watching it go blasting off. Only one ended up in a tree!
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Football World Cup Day
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On Monday, the 22nd of June, we had a football World Cup day to celebrate New Zealand qualifying for the competition for the first time in 16 years! All day, we had World Cup-themed activities. One of the activities was a mini World Cup game where we had four teams: New Zealand, England, Brazil and Argentina. Argentina came in fourth place, Brazil in third place, second place was England, and first place went to New Zealand. It was very fun! The goals were smaller than most people were used to, so it took a little while for them to get used to shooting, but overall, it was a very fun day. In the afternoon, all classes went to Te Kete to watch the New Zealand v Egypt game. Sadly, New Zealand lost against Egypt 1-3, but it was a good game, and we all enjoyed cheering for New Zealand, especially on the first goal.
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Yr 5 & 6 Zones Basketball
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The Diamond State Warriors continue to impress on the basketball court!
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After an outstanding performance at the Year 5 & 6 Zones Tournament, where they won every game to claim the championship title, the team backed it up with another fantastic result last Wednesday.
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In a hard-fought match against the St Martin's Celtics, the Warriors showed great determination, teamwork, and resilience to secure a 19–10 victory. It was an excellent team performance and a testament to the players' commitment and effort throughout the season.
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Congratulations to the team on another well-deserved win. We wish the Diamond State Warriors all the very best as they head into the Canterbury Championships. Bring it on!
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Christchurch Music Festival – School Choir Opportunity
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Christchurch Music Festival – School Choir Opportunity
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Students in Years 5–8 have had the opportunity to join the school choir, which will perform at the Christchurch Town Hall alongside choirs from schools across Christchurch.
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Our students will perform in the Christchurch Music Festival on Wednesday, 4th November.
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Tickets for family and friends will go on sale from 1st September through Ticketmaster. As tickets typically sell out quickly, we encourage families to purchase them as soon as they become available.
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Further information about rehearsals, performance arrangements, and ticket information will be shared early next term
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Matariki Night Mākete Tonight
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🌟 Annual Matariki Night Mākete Tonight 🌟
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Join us for our Annual Matariki Night Mākete tonight, Thursday 2 July, from 5.30pm – 8.30pm at Diamond Harbour School.
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Come along and celebrate Matariki with our school and wider community. There will be food stalls, 2nd Hand goods, games, and a magical star walk for everyone to enjoy.
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Bring your whānau and friends and enjoy an evening of fun, connection, and celebration.
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We look forward to seeing you there.
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What's Coming Up at Diamond Harbour School
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- Thursday 2nd July - Matariki Night Makete
- Friday 3rd July - School Values Day
- Friday 3rd July - Last Day of Term 2
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What's Up In The Local Community
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What's Up Outside Diamond Harbour
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Pioneer Basketball Holiday Camps
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Hey Everyone,
Just wanted to send out a reminder that our Pioneer Basketball Holiday camps are coming up. We would love for you to register and be a part of the camps this holiday season if you haven't already registered.
Camp Details
Tuesday 7th July - Shooting Clinic (Year 5-8)1:30pm - 4:30pm @ Pioneer Stadium
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Cost - $60.00PP
Wednesday 8th July - Mixed Camp (Year 1-8)Year 1-2 - 1:30pm - 3:30pm (2 Hours Only) @ Pioneer Stadium
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Year 3-8 - 1:30pm - 4:30pm (3 Hours) @ Pioneer Stadium Cost - $60.00PP (Year 1-2 Cost will be adjusted)
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