Open Evening 2026
This Tuesday night, Ōtūmoetai College welcomed over 900 visitors across two sessions, to experience student life at our kura.
The evening began with welcoming speeches in the Performing Arts Centre, including insights and experiences from current Year 13 leaders and Year 9 students. Afterward, student guides and staff led visitors on a tour of the school, stopping at each learning area.
Our staff and many students gave up their time to create displays, act as hosts, and demonstrate the learning that happens in different subjects.
Many visitors commented on the positive atmosphere, fantastic learning environments, and the variety of curriculum available.
Principal Russell Gordon called the night a success and praised the efforts of the staff and student guides.
40 Hour Challenge & Milestone Award
This year, Ōtūmoetai College students participated in the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge to raise much needed funds for children in the Solomon Islands.
The Word Vision Committee, aptly led by Year 13 student leader, Lauren Harris, included students from all Year levels. This exceptional group of students organised a number of special events within school to promote the 40 Hour Challenge and arranged sponsorship from local companies for a raffle that was well supported by students and staff.
This year, we raised over $4200 for World Vision – an amazing effort! Ōtūmoetai College has a long standing tradition of supporting World Vision, and we are proud to have been awarded a special Milestone Award of 45 years of raising funds for this incredible charity.
Message from Te Whatu Ora – Scabies – Te waihakihaki
We are seeing a significant increase in cases of scabies in our community. We ask whānau to be aware of the signs and symptoms so cases can be identified and treated early. Students with scabies need to stay home until 24 hours after their first treatment is completed.
For more information on how to identify scabies and what treatments are available please click here.
Junior Art Exhibition
The Ōtūmoetai College Junior Art Exhibition opened last Friday night.
It is on at The People’s Gallery, The Historic Village, 17th Avenue, Tauranga until Saturday 22 August.
Hip Hop Junior Troupe
Our Hip Hop Junior Troupe competed for the first time on Saturday in the OPEN Secondary School division. They took out 3rd place.
Thanks to Sophie Lane for her awesome choreography!
Ōtūmoetai College Year 12/13 Business Studies/Young Enterprise Groups
Ōtumoetai College has 9 Year 12/13 Business Studies/Young Enterprise groups that have been busy creating and developing innovative products to take to market as part of their course this year.
In the spotlight this week are the following teams; Ouch Pouch, Pivot, Rau & glow, Side Quests, Soapy Scents, Squeezeables. Go follow them on their socials, share their product with friends and family and support however you can! Some businesses have giveaways too, so keep an eye out so you don’t miss out!
Find SideQuests, Pivot, Buzz Bites and Portion Pal at the Little Big Markets on the 22nd August from 9:00am – 2:00pm at Coronation Park Mt Maunganui.
Find Ouch Pouch, Rau & Glow, Soapy Scents, Squeezables, Bottle Refresh, Kiwi Protein at: The Careers Expo on 6th August, Bottle Refresh and Kiwi Protein will be at the Food Show on 15&16th August and Squeezables will be at the Little Big markets on the 22nd August.
Ouch Pouch
Got an Ouch? Reach for the pouch.
Ouch Pouch is a washable, reusable and adjustable pouch that is used to put ice or heat packs in, so that you won’t have to worry about keeping it in place. Our product is created to solve the problem of when using an ice or heat pack and the fact that they don’t stay in place, therefore having to be held in a specific spot for a period of time when in use. Ouch Pouch allows you to keep doing what you need to do while ensuring the pouch holds your ice or heat pack with a velcro lid to ensure it stays inside the pouch. The straps are then connected to this pouch with Velcro and a D-ring, so that it can be adjusted to any body part where the ice or heat pack is needed.
Pivot
We are Pivot, a student-led business passionate about helping indoor athletes perform with confidence. We created Pivot Grip Spray to improve shoe traction on indoor courts, helping reduce slips while enhancing performance and control.
Our goal is to provide athletes with a reliable, affordable, and effective grip solution for sports such as basketball, volleyball, netball, and badminton. Through innovation and teamwork, we’re proud to develop a product that supports both safety and performance every time athletes step onto the court.
You can find us on our instagram @pivotgripspraynz or on our website nzpivot.com
Rau & Glow
At Rau and Glow, our “why” is driven by a passion for creating skincare that is safe, natural, and meaningful. We believe people deserve products that not only enhance their appearance but also care for their skin without exposing them to harsh chemicals. Our product is a natural lip and cheek tint balm made from locally sourced New Zealand ingredients such as kawakawa and beeswax, along with other nourishing plant-based components. This product is designed to be multi-functional, providing both a subtle tint for beauty and deep nourishment for the skin. By focusing on high-quality, natural ingredients, we aim to deliver a product that supports skin health while enhancing a natural, healthy glow.
Side Quests
Have you ever had days where you wanted to go outside and have fun but you just couldn’t think of anything to do? SidQuests are your answer! We are an interactive card game where you have the option of 20 fun and exciting quests to complete to win vouchers from our Sponsors, Hashtag Cafe. We began this business because we’ve seen the decline in people going into the City Centre and how empty it has become. Local businesses
are shutting down so we wanted to give the people of Tauranga a reason to visit the City centre. Show your support by following us on Instagram and Tiktok @sidequests.tga. Find us at the Careers Expo on August 6th Located at Mercury Baypark Arena. Our product is $15.
Soapy Scents
Looking for a way to enjoy popular men’s colognes without the hefty price tag? Our business Soapy Scents has the perfect solution. We infuse popular men’s colognes directly into our soap bars. Our unique process gives consumers the luxurious, long lasting aroma of top tier designer fragrances at a fraction of the cost. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a single bottle of cologne, you can now elevate your daily grooming routine affordably. Support a local school business and upgrade your shower experience today. Follow us on social media at @soapyscentsnzl and find our website in our bio to browse our collection.
Squeezables
As teenagers from Ōtūmoetai College, we’ve noticed that a common problem amongst all young adults and also children is mental health. Knowing this, we decided to create a product to help everyone, but specifically teenagers and children aged 5 years or older.
Squeezables, our product is a squishy/fidget toy designed to help people with mental health issues. Stress relief toys are found to be very effective tools for mental health-targeted disorders/illnesses, and for regulating the body’s nervous system, evening out your breathing and providing your mind and nervous energy with a healthy outlet. Along with being unique in its small size, it’s easy to conceal, fit in any pocket, and smoosh together with other colours and squishies. Collect all the colours!
SVA Foodbank Drive – 5th-18th August
Your Education – Scholarships and Application Deadlines
Is your student wanting an international experience this year?
Your Education High School Exchanges still have spaces available for all their two and three-month exchanges starting in December and January. The application deadline is 1st September.
Discounts & Scholarships Available
They have several offers to help make an exchange a little bit more affordable:
- $1,000 OFF: Valid for short-term Canada exchanges (departing Dec ’26) OR Canada for any duration departing in Feb ’27.
- $500 OFF: Valid for any short-term exchange departing in Dec ’26 or any destination departing in Jan ‘27.
They also have scholarships up to the value of $2,000. Interested students should check out the criteria on their website here.
The best way for students and their parents to find out more is to join one of their Online Information Meetings. They also have a Book a Chat function on our website where students or their parents can book a time to speak with one of our team.
Any students wanting more information can email enquiries@youreducation.co.nz.
Health Guidance for Parents & Caregivers
Guidance for parents and caregivers from Health New Zealand: Te Whatu Ora – Knowing if your child is well enough to go to school.
Going to school every day is important for all school aged tamariki (children). It helps build their confidence, social skills, and achieve their education and life ambitions. In the winter months, coughs, colds, allergies, viruses, as well as respiratory infections can unfortunately be a common occurrence.
This LINK helps you decide when it is okay to send your child to school, when you should keep your child at home, and when you should contact a health professional for advice.
