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Liam Whittle, Marja Lubeck MP, Utu Cotton, Tapora principal Keryl Lee and Connell Mackay at Parliament.
Students from Tapora School met Parliamentary Speaker Trevor Mallard and were given a tour of the Beehive by local MPs Chris Penk and Marja Lubeck when they visited Wellington for a special school camp last month.
They were in the capital for the biennial Rural and Remote camp for Year 7 and 8 students, which brings together intermediate students from small schools to connect and learn online together and to reduce social isolation.
As well as the Parliamentary tour, students from four rural schools – Tapora, Great Barrier Island, Manawatu and Stewart Island – were in the gallery when Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi was ejected from the house.
Other activities during the five-day camp included a visit to Weta Workshop, the National Library, go-karting and a trip on the Police Maritime Unit boat.
Tapora principal Keryl Lee said this was the third such trip to Wellington for the school since the Rural and Remote group was formed 10 years ago, and it formed an important step in preparation for students moving on to secondary schools.
“The rural kids camp is a significant event for the schools and whānau involved, with siblings of previous students eager to take their turn on camp, and a big effort from our communities to fundraise to get our children to Wellington,” she said.
