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Farewells and Adventures for Hedgehope School

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Celebrating Southland Schools

13 July 2025, 8:49 PM

Farewells and Adventures for Hedgehope SchoolReaching for Greatness. Photo: supplied

On Friday, 27th June, we said farewell to someone who has not just led Hedgehope School but has been the heartbeat of it. Sue Rogers has been the Principal of Hedgehope for 8.5 years and has built a culture that’s vibrant, caring, and brave.


Whaeā Sue is a leader with boundless energy, big dreams, and ideas so wild they somehow always worked. Sue planted seeds of greatness here. And they will keep growing long after she has gone. We’ll miss you.


Thank you to the MAARD chefs and Wendy for catering the delicious MidWinter Feast, Kate for her kind words, current students for their caring speeches, and to all the Hedgehope students and staff for their passionate haka and waiata.


Farewell to Sue Rogers with flowers and midwinter feast for all. Photo: Supplied

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On Wednesday, 25th June, families braved the darkness and cold sea temperatures to collect toheroa from Oreti Beach for our Mid-Winter Christmas/Farewell Whaeā Sue dinner.


It was a great experience! Randomly, it was 3 years ago to the very day that these shellfish were harvested for a Matariki feast in the Hedgehope Hall. 


Collecting toheroa from Oreti Beach. Photo: Supplied

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Two of our Enviro Leaders and two members of our MAARD cheffing team were invited to a Sustainable Kai Day at Rock Hut on Mt Linton Station earlier this month.


Students went target shooting, butchered deer and wild pork, competed in orienteering, built campfires, cooked pancakes and made connections with like-minded peers.

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Hedgehope School proudly sponsored by Winton & District Funeral Services


The Hedgehope students REACHed for Greatness and are inspired to embed some of these learnings at our school. 


A huge thanks to Active Southland, Matt Middlemass and Michelle from Takitium Area School for hosting a great day of rich learning. 


Sustainable Kai Day at Rock Hut on Mt Linton Station. Photo: Supplied

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Thanks to Josh at Environment Southland, we have been able to access an Enviro Schools Action Fund. These funds will help us manage the vegetable garden and hothouse, upgrade the chicken coop area, create more structures in the nursery to protect our nursery stocks, and hang gates in the garden.


We wish for the students to become kaitaiki and take ownership of this space.


The vision is to create a space which will draw the children into graze on their choice of vegetable/fruit/berries. 


If you are keen on any native plants from our nursery, please get in touch.


Students learning to become kaitaiki and take ownership of thier space. Photo: Supplied

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