Growing strong leaders: Rooted in history, serving the future

At Newmarket School, our approach to student leadership is framed by a unique dialogue – a conversation between our past and our future. We are guided by two distinct mottos that act as the bookends of our leadership philosophy. Our historical motto, ‘Not self but service’ grounds us in a tradition of contribution over ego. Our current motto, ‘From these roots shall strong trees grow, Nō ēnei pakiaka ka tupu ai ngā rākau kaha’, serves as a forward-looking vision, highlighting our commitment to long-term development, sustainability and a lasting legacy. The pakiaka (roots) represent the mauri of the school’s purpose, while the kaupapa brings the community together.

Navigating the space between these two ideas requires a robust set of values. By integrating our foundational school values of kindness, respect and perseverance with the deep cultural wisdom of te ao Māori values – whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga – we are cultivating student leaders who understand that true leadership is a profound act of service.

Ākonga Lucy (pictured second from right) created an article for the Newmarket School newsletter, sharing her journey to locate Rupert Cyril Moore’s grave in France. Back in Auckland, Lucy and her family met Rupert’s nephew Cyril and gave him a photo of them at his uncle’s grave.

We have determined that these qualities are most effectively cultivated through immersive, thematic learning that requires students to translate values into practice. Our dedication to our community's Anzac history and our comprehensive environmental initiatives best illustrate this approach in action.

Honouring the past: Anzac and the spirit of service

The concept of ‘not self but service’ is perhaps never more relevant than when engaging with Anzac history. For our student leaders, Anzac commemorations are not merely passive annual community events: they are active leadership challenges rooted in respect and perseverance.

Newmarket School ākonga at the 2025 Anzac ceremony held by the Newmarket Business Association, which the school is invited to every year to share their Anzac research.

Leading ceremonies requires the perseverance to master protocols and the deep respect necessary to honour those who went before. At Newmarket School we go beyond the annual community parade to Newmarket Park: We use the Anzac spirit to teach lessons in contribution. Students explore what ‘service’ looks like in their current context. It is about understanding that leadership sometimes requires sacrifice – giving up lunchtimes to organise events, standing up for others when it is difficult, or simply being a reliable presence for peers.

From left: Newmarket School deputy principal Virginia Kung, principal Wendy Kofoed and teacher Sonya Van Schaijik.

The historical identity of the Newmarket area, known as Te Tī Tūtahi (the single standing cabbage tree), provides a metaphorical and physical connection to the land. Although the original sacred tree was removed in the early 20th century, its legacy as a wāhi tapu – a sacred place where the umbilical cords of chiefly children were buried – remains central to the school's sense of tūrangawaewae.

This historical lens provides weight and depth to our students’ roles. Our students learn that they are part of a continuum of service, laying the groundwork for the ‘strong roots’ mentioned in our current motto.

Living the values: The daily practice of leadership

If history provides the anchor, our daily values provide the compass. We challenge our leaders to embody kindness and respect in every interaction, understanding these not as ‘soft skills’, but as essential leadership tools.

Here, the values of whanaungatanga and manaakitanga are crucial. A student leader’s primary role is to foster whanaungatanga – making sure every student feels a sense of belonging within the school whānau. They achieve this through manaakitanga – showing kindness, offering support to younger students, and making sure the school environment is welcoming and respectful.

Leadership is rarely easy, which is why perseverance is key. When a project stalls or conflicts arise, we encourage our leaders to embrace resilience and perseverance, supported by the collective strength of the leadership group.

Teachers Elena Reihana and Renee Mills with their class in 2015. It was the first time they used the original School Kit crosses from the Walking with an Anzac Education Programme to hold a ceremony at school.

Kaitiakitanga: Leading for a sustainable future

Ultimately, our leadership programme aims to fulfil the promise of our current motto: ‘From these roots shall strong trees grow.’ This is most literally expressed through our enviro theme. Enviro is the prefix for everything environmental.

The Environmental Education for Sustainability Strategy uses Te Whare Tapa Whā model to define best practice across four dimensions: the spiritual (te taha wairua), the thought (te taha hinengaro), the physical (te taha tinana), and the social (te taha whānau). By adopting this holistic model, student leaders at our school engage in complex project management, including waste reduction, garden management, getting to school safely (called the Travelwise initiative) and energy audits, understanding that their leadership has tangible, long-lasting consequences.

Environmental leadership is where students move from serving their immediate community to serving the planet and future generations. This is the embodiment of kaitiakitanga – guardianship and stewardship. Our enviro leaders are not just looking after the school gardens. They are learning complex project management, influencing peers to change behaviours, and understanding the science of sustainability.

By taking ownership of environmental projects, ākonga learn that their leadership has tangible, long-lasting actions as leaders leave a measurable, lasting footprint. They are growing the ‘strong trees’ that will shade those who come after them.

A holistic vision

By linking the historical call of ‘not self but service’ with the future-focused aspiration of ‘from these roots shall strong trees grow’, we provide our students with a powerful narrative for their leadership journey.

Newmarket School teacher Sonya Van Schaijik guides senior ākonga to research past students who went to the school.

When they understand that kindness, respect and perseverance are the daily nutrients for those roots, and when they apply whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga to real-world challenges like Anzac remembrance and environmental sustainability, they become more than just student representatives. They become empathetic, resilient and forward-thinking guardians of our school's future.

Written by Newmarket School teacher Sonya Van Schaijik, principal Wendy Kofoed and deputy principal Virginia Kung.

Lucy's visit to Rupert Cyril Moore’s grave site

"In 2019 my family and I were on our way to Paris, France from Germany and on the journey I was hoping to see Rupert Cyril Moore’s grave site because it is part of my school’s history. We stopped off at Villers Hill British Cemetery near Villers Guislain. I was determined to find his grave.

"When we arrived at a grave site and I was hoping that this would be it. I walked around a bit making sure to look at every detail of the headstones and then I found his grave. It meant a lot to me especially because I could share this with my school once I came back from my trip.

"The grave site was set in the countryside and around it there were rows upon rows of rapeseed oil flowers and they made a big display of colour. We laid down a New Zealand ANZAC coin on top of his headstone.

"Last year I marched down with Newmarket School as part of the ANZAC parade. I met Cyril Moore, his nephew and told him about my journey. Cyril was the son of Sapper Percival Ewart Moore. This year I hope more Newmarket school children will join us to remember the pupils who died in the war. I wonder if Cyril and his wife Jan will be there again this year."

By Lucy

Newmarket School’s narratives

Newmarket School has created narratives around Anzac Day, environmental education and Travelwise, a programme based on safe travel to and from school.

Newmarket School's Anzac narrative – Book Creator

Newmarket School's Environmental Education for Sustainability narrative – Book Creator

Newmarket School's Travelwise narrative – Book Creator