Kia ora, School. Please be seated. 

I now invite Year 10 student Rupert McKimm forward to deliver today’s reading 

Today’s reading comes from Joshua, Chapter 1 

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:  “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them — to the Israelites. 

I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.  Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country — to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.  

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  

This is the word of the Lord…….. (Thanks be to God) 

Rectors Comments:    

Thank you, Rupert 

Today’s reading was about Joshua, who God chose to lead his people across the River Jordan into the promised land. God is telling Joshua that, because Moses has died, Joshua has been chosen to step up and lead the people. Joshua was Moses’ right hand man, 

So God gives Joshua some advice on how to carry out his duty as a leader. He urges Joshua to: 

Keep the people focused – they are about to cross the river Jordan and it won’t be easy 

He tells Joshua that he must be strong and courageous! 

He also tells Joshua to follow the rules. 

Finally, he tells Joshua that if he obeys all these things he will be successful wherever he goes. 

Why did I ask Rupert  to read this passage today? Well, because today I’m reminding and challenging you to step up and be courageous.  

Last Thursday afternoon, we held our Senior prizegiving. We congratulated our senior students for their achievements in 2025 and we said farewell to all Yr 11-13s as they finish regular classes for the year.  

We also celebrated our Year 13 students who will finish their schooling after their exams. They are no longer the leaders during the school day. The prefects have started to hand it their kilts. They have the passed the baton on. 

I hope you listened to Head Prefect Chris Proctor’s valedictory speech as outgoing head boy as he talked about the pride he felt in being part of this strong brotherhood of Lindisfarne. And seeing Jimi Logan receiving the School Dux award as our top academic in the school and also Chris receiving the Herrick Cup, the most prestigious award in the school. I hope you also enjoyed being part of the standing ovation and haka performed by our kapa haka boys for Frank Gilligan, our 2026 Head Boy, as Chris placed the korowai on him and I handed him his badge. 

The placing of the korowai on the Head Prefect’s shoulders is something that only happens once per year. And many of you would have heard something else for the first time on Thursday too. The reading of the Head Prefect Pledge, when Frank made his promises to you, to serve you. 

So we are going through a transition phase at the college right now, as Chris passes the baton on to Frank, and as I get ready to pass the baton on to Mr Hardman your new Rector who starts at the beginning of next year. 

And just like Joshua took over from Moses in our bible reading, we are now looking to our Yr 9 & 10 students to step up and lead in the school for the next 3 ½  weeks. That’s a big responsibility. You’ve looked up to the Yr 11, 12 and 13s all year, and now we’re asking you to take on that leadership role. To pick up the baton and lead. Our Year 7/8s are looking at you expecting you to lead. 

What do I mean when I say we’re looking for you to lead? And who exactly do I mean? We’re not giving any badges out. You won’t be wearing prefect kilts. 

What I mean is that each and every one of you now has to show me and your Deans and teachers, and Boarding Housemasters through your daily actions and words that you are capable of leading. That you can step up.  

One day you may be applying to be a prefect, and we won’t just be looking at how you’re going in Yr 12, we’re watching you now. And so how can you show us that you have what it takes to lead, and that we should be keeping an eye on you as a potential prefect of the future?  

There’s a number of things you can do: 

Make Responsible decisions. That takes courage, just like Joshua was challenged to be courageous, you need to have the strength to make good decisions and stick to what you know is right. Sometimes you might have to make those decisions when those around you are making bad choices. Show some self-discipline and show that you’re maturing. It’s time to step up in all areas: 

In the classroom. I have been impressed with what I’ve seen in the hall this week with exams. Well done 

In chapel and assemblies. 

In the dining room 

The Boarding house 

At practices and trainings 

Around the school grounds at morning tea and lunch.  

Now sadly, we’ve seen example in the last few weeks of boys making poor decisions, and not stepping up, and receiving some harsh consequences because of their poor decision-making. Remember boys: Think before you say or do. 

What else can you do? 

Be willing to serve others. Show care for your friends and teachers. 

Encourage others and be positive all the time. No put downs – keep everything positive. Include others and lift them up. If you can’t be kind in your words and actions be quiet and still.  

Show initiative – that means doing things without being asked. 

Lead by example. In how you work in class, how you wear your uniform and in being in the right place, at the right time, at all times. 

Here’s a really important message - Do not make the mistake of thinking that, now that the seniors have gone, it’s time for you to puff out your chest, flex your muscles and show off to others that you’re now the king pin. That’s not how it works at Lindisfarne, that’s not the Lindisfarne Way. You can’t claim a leadership role, you have to earn it.  

So as I said at the start, think about Frank Gilligan, think about Chris Proctor, think about Jimi Logan…..think about the good men who your respect around here.  

See if you can earn the trust and respect of the boys in the school. 

That’s a challenge for you to think about today as you continue to adjust to a school without senior students. How will you respond? How will you act and how will you lead? I’ll be watching and so will all the staff. 

Please join me in singing the hymn: Guide Me 

HYMN 

Rector Comments:  

Please be seated. I will now invite Dr Kristensen forward to update us on the latest Arts and Cultural news. 

Cultural Report 

Tēnā koutou katoa 

Here is today’s cultural report.  

Prize Givings and Performances 

It’s been a very busy couple of weeks for our musicians that performed at the senior awards assembly, senior prize giving, and Carol Service last week. Thanks go to the pipe band, symphonic band, the jazz band and the Jazzstronomers, for their hard work at these events.  

Congratulations also to the performers and award winners at this year’s Arts Awards Dinner that was held here in the Chapel. Thanks to the tech team that has busy setting up for all of these events over the past few weeks. Without your input, boys, it would be impossible make the events so great.   

Hastings’ Girls’ High School Performing Arts Concert  

In week three our symphonic band and joint Lindisfarne-Hastings’ Girls High School choir performed at the hastings’ Girls’ High School Performing Arts Concert. This was the first time in many years that both groups performed together at Hastings’ Girls’. It was a fantastic evening, and it has been fantastic to collaborate with the Hastings’ Girls’ students this year.  

Thinking forward to 2026 

With less than half a term remaining, now is a good time to start thinking about how you can be involved in the cultural cornerstone next year. Registrations for music and speech and drama lessons will go live in two weeks’ time. If you are interested in starting   a musical instrument or would like to do speech or drama, or join the tech team, or be in a band, come and see Mr Kristensen or Mr Selfe today after assembly, or any time next week. Next year will be full of cultural opportunities, and these are for everyone at the College. So if you’ve not really tried anything in the cultural cornerstone before, I hugely encourage you to be brave and give it a go – it’s a lot fun, you learn a lot, and you get to know a lot of new people from all levels of the College.  

"Kia pai tō rā whakatā!". Have a great weekend.  

Rector Comments: 

Thank you, Dr Kristensen. I will now invite Year 10 student Davey Simutoga forward, to update us on the latest Sports news. 

Sports Report  

Good afternoon school, it is my pleasure to read the Sports Report this week. 

In Water polo 

Finley Day, Monte Douglas and Oisin Rabitte, represented Hawkes Bay in the U16, Division 2 National Water Polo Championships in Wellington bringing home the Bronze Medal. The Hawkes Bay water polo team competed against twenty-six teams from across New Zealand and this an awesome achievement. 

In Canoe Polo 

Our teams competed in the Central East Junior Regional Qualifiers and had a successful weekend. Our team including Ollie Fritchley, Xavier Fitness, Luke Dodd, Charlie Baker, Blake Sprott and Cameron Huckle secured the bronze medal. This result sees them qualify to compete in the New Zealand Secondary Schools championships. 

Can Xavier, Luke, Charlie, Blake and Cameron please come forward to receive their medals 

Earlier in the year Oscar Fitness and Leo Baker were selected for the U14 Hawke's Bay canoe polo team. The U14s tournament was held last weekend with a strong field of competition, including teams from Wellington and Palmerston North. Their team made it through to the finals undefeated before finishing in second place for the tournament. Oscar finished the tournament as the third highest goal scorer. 

In JuJitsu 

Max Russell competed at the NZ grappler South Pacific championships last week. This is new Zealand’s only internationally recognised competition. Max achieved 3rd place in the Adult under 74kg No Gi event. 

In Golf 

Cordell Henare attended the New Zealand Amateur Men's Golf Championship last week in Invercargill and progressed all the way to the semi-finals where he lost to eventual National Champion Mitch Kale. 

An outstanding effort from Cordell and we extend our congratulations to him for this fine achievement 

In Cricket 

Our 1st XI took on Havelock North in the latest round of fixtures and had a good day. Havelock North scored 219/10 and we replied with 222/4 to win the game by 6 wickets. Fergus Benefield took 3/33 and Riley Lennox 4/19. Andrew Wakefield scored 60 not out and Charlie Wenley, an impressive 98 not out. 

Our 2nd XI played HBHS 2nd XI and secured a fine win. HBHS scored 101/10 and we chased the score down to end on 102/7. 

Our Colts Red team played NBHS Blue and won comfortably. NBHS scored 97/8 and we scored 98/4 with Boschi King taking 4/9 and Freddie Flemming scoring 56. 

Our Colts White and Intermediate 1st XI had narrow losses against NBHS Colts White and Hereworth respectively. George Pogson (38) and William Eyre 3/14 performed well for the Colts team. 

In Futsal 

In the first round of competition our junior teams performed well with the Junior White (13-1) and Junior Red (6-1) both victorious. In the senior competition, our Senior Gold team had a 8-1 win over George’s Guards 

Rector Comments: 

Thank you, Davey.  

Congratulations to everyone whose been recognised today. 

Reverend Dunnett will now close our assembly in prayer. 

Article added: Thursday 13 November 2025