E ngaa mana e ngaa reo e ngaa rau rangatira maa, nei raa te mihi maioha ki a koutou, ki a taatou katoa. I hope this message finds you and your whaanau rested, healthy and ready for Term 2 2026.
We are looking forward to greeting our boarders for the start of term two on the evening of Sunday 19 April from 5pm. This a reminder that there will be no dinner available as the dining room is closed.
We had a busy and rewarding first term as a boarding community. Our focus and efforts of course underpinned by the vision set by our Heads of Boarding Katie Bartram and Matta Daniel with their boarding leaders. I am grateful for their leadership and support in fostering the spirit of whanaungatanga and manaakitanga within boarding through events such as our Year 9 Afternoon Tea and Dinner, In-boarding Weekend, Valentine’s Day, and Easter-themed dinners.
We wish to acknowledge the many sporting and artistic achievements of our boarding girls. We as house parents were privileged to attend and cheer for our boarding girls such as cricket, waterpolo, athletics, swimming sports and much more. Our boarding students have also participated in a range of special character events such as the making of Easter baskets for the elderly, chapel services, and other important projects and initiatives that are at the heart of what we do here at Te Kura Piihopatanga o Waikato.
We welcomed five new staff members at the start of term one, TeAni Solomon (Year 11 Davis House parent), Tiaria Potaka (Junior Prep Tutor), Tayla Hood (Senior Prep Tutor), Ashleigh Human and Luvuyo Titus (Gap Tutors). They have been wonderful additions to our boarding whaanau.
In the lastest Homestead, my resignation as Director of Boarding was announced. I was asked by one of our Year 9 boarders why I was leaving. At the time I wasn’t able to answer her however I will now. I have had a yearning to return home to Murupara for a while and with the passing of a few close relatives last year plus and a significant birthday on the horizon my desire to return home increased. Therefore, I am fortunate to have landed the role of Takiwaa Ako Manager at Te Waananga o Aotearoa based in Rotorua. My new job will entail supporting the teaching and learning of their Level 1 to Level 4 Te Reo Maaori programmes taught through the Waiwhero (Rotorua) and Tukarere (Tauranga) campuses. I will certainly miss Dio Boarding staff and boarders and they will always have a special place in my heart. Please be reassured that our boarding staff are well equipped to continue to care and support our boarders as a new director of boarding is appointed.
Boarding at Dio encourages students to become independent, open-minded, and principled thinkers. Family values are at our core, and the well-being of our young people is paramount. We encourage all students to find a good study/life balance and be proactive members of our supportive community. There is a varied programme to allow time for relaxation, spirituality, study, and the opportunity to try new activities in a homely environment.
Thank you for entrusting us with your precious aakonga. We are very blessed to have this opportunity to partner with you to ensure your daughter thrives in this independent environment where mutual aroha and manaakitanga are front and centre.
Maa te Atua e manaaki ki a koutou katoa
Jacqueline Smith | Director of Boarding
MEdLeadership (Honours), BA, Grad DipT, Dip.Soc.Sci, Dip TTP (Te Reo Maaori), CertTEAL