Meet Tama

Year 8 student, Tama, is a gun rugby and cricket player. He’s also very handy with a golf club and plays off a ten handicap.

“I used to go to primary school in the Wairarapa and my teammate’s brother would come and watch us play rugby and tell us about his awesome school in Marton. I looked Huntley up on the internet and told Mum and Dad I was desperate to go.”

Tama’s parents took him along to an Open Day and he couldn’t believe there was a school with everything he loved doing in one place – woodwork classes, a mountain bike track, a gym to play in and an orchard full of huts!

He applied for and was awarded a Boarding scholarship to Huntley for two years.

Life at Huntley for Tama is busy, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

His parents live about two hours away from Huntley so he’s a full boarder and loves that he gets to hang out with his mates every day.

“We get to go on outings in the weekends to the Lido or Cloud 9 or we kick a ball around or ride our bikes on the mountain bike track if we’re at school.”

Tama has Colours for cricket and rugby. He plays in the 1st XI cricket team in Summer. He’s a pace bowler and generally bats at No 4 or 5. He was stoked when he got a 50 at the beginning of the season.

In the winter you’ll find him starting at first five for the 1st XV. He’s taken over the kicking duties this year.

Tama is in 8AR. “That’s Mr Reynolds-Rowe’s class. He’s also my 1st XV Coach so we spend a bit of time together. When I started at Huntley last year, I was at Level 2 for English. I’ve worked up to Level 4. And we didn’t have the opportunity to learn a language at my old school. I did French in Year 7 and this year I’m learning Spanish.

As for what the future holds.

“I’m going to board at Rathkeale next year. I’ve been awarded an all-round Excellence Scholarship. I’ll miss my Huntley mates, but it will be cool to be closer to my parents who live at Castlepoint. I guess I’ll get to use my surfboard a bit more.”