Kia ora school, e noho please be seated. 

We begin our assembly today with a reading from the Bible, which will be read by Cuthbert Head of House, Charlie East. 

Matthew 11:28–30  

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. 

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 

Thank you, Charlie. 

This passage from Matthew speaks straight into the reality many of us live in today. 

When Jesus talks about giving rest to those who are “weary and burdened,” He isn’t just referring to being physically tired. He’s talking about the kind of tiredness that builds up inside, when your mind is overloaded, when emotions feel stretched, and when life feels heavier than usual. 

For many of you, that “weariness” can come from: schoolwork and assessments, expectations from others, sports commitments, friendships and social pressures, responsibilities at home, and the pressure you put on yourselves to always perform. 

It’s the kind of tiredness that an extra hour of sleep on Sunday doesn’t magically fix. 

Jesus’ message is simple but powerful: you don’t have to carry everything on your own. 

When he uses the image of taking His “yoke,” He is talking about two animals sharing the weight of a load. One doesn’t do all the work, they pull together. It’s a picture of partnership, of support, of shared strength. 

And in a world full of noise, screens, pressure, expectations, and constant activity, this passage reminds us that rest isn’t optional. Rest is something we are designed for, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 

It’s something we all think we’re good at… but almost all of us could do a lot better. 

So why does rest matter so much. Well rest isn’t just sleep and it isn’t just “having a break.” 

Rest is the skill that resets your brain, your body, and your attitude so you can actually be your best. 

And trust me: at Lindisfarne, where you juggle classes, homework, sports, music, service, leadership, friendships, and family, rest isn’t a luxury. It’s a survival skill. 

Today I want to share some ideas around rest and why every single one of them matters for you. 

The first thing we need to conquer is sleep. Sleep is the most underrated superpower. 

Most boys your age need 8–10 hours of sleep a night. Not because adults say so, but because: your brain is still developing, your body is growing, your memory is organising itself, and your emotions are processing and settling. 

When you cut sleep short, it’s like shutting your computer off halfway through a software update. So like your computer you may still “work,” but you will: operate slower, glitch more, react unpredictably, struggle to organise information, get frustrated more easily, and your body takes longer to recover from sport and sickness. 

What really matters is the total amount of sleep you get, and whether you’re going to bed early enough to let your brain go through its deepest, most restorative stages. 

For teenagers, the first few hours after you fall asleep are the most powerful for recovery, memory, and mood, no matter when they happen. But going to bed earlier usually means better quality sleep, fewer late‑night screens, and more of the deep sleep your body needs. 

So, if you want a free, legal, and incredibly powerful performance enhancer for school, for sport, and for your wellbeing, it’s sleep. 

Another thing to remember, just like any device, you can’t be “on” all the time, we need balance. 

Balance is about knowing when to push hard and when to slow down. None of us can operate at full speed all the time, and when we try, our performance, our mood, and even our relationships start to suffer. Finding balance means giving yourself moments to reset, to recharge, and to breathe. It’s not laziness; it’s smart living. When you build balance into your week, you think more clearly, handle pressure better, and have more energy for the things that actually matter. Balance doesn’t weaken you, it protects you and helps you perform at your best. 

Last Friday, Mr Hardman talked about a grounding technique: intentional breathing. 

It sounds simple, almost too simple, but slow, calm, deliberate breathing is one of the fastest ways to reset your nervous system. 

Your breath is your anchor. It goes with you everywhere. So you can use it anytime: before a match, before an exam, when you're stressed, or when things feel overwhelming. 

A few slow breaths can calm your body, steady your mind, and help you make better decisions. It’s a small habit that creates a huge impact. 

We also have to give our brains a break. This one is hard, because phones are fun. Games are fun. Scrolling is fun. But they’re also exhausting. 

When you’re constantly on your phone, your brain experiences: constant noise, constant comparison, constant stimulation, constant distraction. 

Even when you think you’re relaxing, your brain is still spinning. 

Avoiding screens before bed is important because phones and devices keep your brain awake when it should be winding down. The light from screens delays the release of melatonin, the hormone that helps you fall asleep, which means your brain stays alert long after you stop scrolling. On top of that, the constant stimulation from videos, messages, and games makes it harder to relax, harder to switch off emotionally, and harder to reach the deep, restorative sleep your body needs. Even 20–30 minutes without screens before bed can help you fall asleep faster, improve your mood the next day, and make your rest far more effective. 

Screens aren’t necessarily the enemy, but they can quietly steal your rest without you noticing. 

There’s one other part of rest that often gets forgotten, and it might be the most important of all. 

Sharing the load. Asking for help. Looking after each other. 

Here at Lindisfarne, we often talk about brotherhood. But brotherhood isn’t just wearing the same uniform or standing together to support a team. 

Brotherhood is about being the kind of young man who notices when someone else is struggling and is brave enough to say something. 

Sometimes the heaviest burdens aren’t the ones we show on the outside. They’re the quiet ones: the stress you don’t talk about, the friendship issues you hide, the pressure at home, the feeling that you’re not keeping up, or the worry that you don’t want to “be a problem”. 

But here’s the truth: you were never meant to carry everything on your own. 

Talking to someone, a friend, a teacher, a dean, your mentor, someone you trust, isn’t being weak. 

It’s being human. It’s being wise. And it’s the fastest way to lighten the load. 

That’s why the idea of “Spark that Chat” matters so much. It’s not about deep, emotional conversations every day. It’s simply about checking in. Noticing. Asking a mate if he’s OK, properly OK. 

Sometimes all it takes is: one question, one moment, one person who cares to remind someone they’re not alone. 

And that’s what being a Lindisfarne man is about. Being the brother who: looks out for his mates, listens without judging, is kind when kindness is needed, stands beside someone who’s having a tough time, and helps lighten the load, even if only a little. 

Kindness isn’t soft. Caring isn’t weak. Stepping up for your mates isn’t optional, it’s part of who we are. 

When each of you learns to rest well, to balance well, to breathe well, and to share the load when life gets heavy, you don’t just make yourself stronger. You make the whole brotherhood stronger. 

Gentlemen, you don’t have to wait until you’re older to take rest seriously. 

You can choose, starting today: better sleep, better balance, better breathing, fewer screens, less stress, being a good mate and brother, and a healthier, more sustainable version of yourself. 

Not next term. Not next year. But today. 

Because rest doesn’t make you weak. Rest makes you ready. 

On Wednesday I was impressed with the singing, let’s repeat that today as we sing our College song Highways in the Heart 

HYMN: Highways in the Heart 

Rector Comments:  

Please be seated. I will now invite Cultural Prefect, Te Awarangi Puketapu-Pene, forward to update us on the latest Arts and Cultural news. 

Cultural Report 

Te Awarangi - Good afternoon school, it is my pleasure to read this week's cultural report. 

Pipe Band Concert  

On Saturday the Lindisfarne College Pipe Band joined with the Hawke’s Bay Caledonian Pipe Band to give a concert here at the College on the Homestead Lawn. The boys performed their own programme excellently, which included solos by Dominic Goodenough and Pipe Major Fergus Denton. It was also great to see and hear the adult band of Hawke’s Bay Caledonian perform at a high standard. Both groups played together in the finale to form an awesome massed band.  

House Haka Competition 

As I’m sure you know, the House Haka competition is coming up in week 10, and you will be busy practising this in your house. Please make sure that you memorise the words of the haka – the words are printed in your homework diary, so please learn these. Your house will be awarded for correct and strong actions, strength, unity (you’re all doing the same thing) volume, keeping a steady speed, and for strong mana and house spirit. There is a video of the school haka on You Tube that will be helpful in learning it.  

[WATCH VIDEO OF THE SCHOOL HAKA]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt2-vlsklgU 

Cultural Opportunities 

This is just a reminder that there are a lot of cultural and performing arts opportunities available to you all, but you have to put your hand to get involved in these. For example, kapa haka, symphonic band, jazz band, junior wind band, the Big Sing Choir with Hastings Girls’ HS, and more. And for the 7/8’s, you should be making the most of the cultural lunchtime on a Thursday. Please see Gus Denton or myself after assembly if you need any help with connecting with a performing arts group.  

Have a great weekend.  

Rector Comments: 

Thank you, Te Awarangi. I’d now like to invite Sports Prefect, Reid Palmer, up to present this week's sports report 

 

Sports Report  

Good afternoon school, it is my pleasure to read this week's sports report. 

In Skiing 

Olly Wilkins has been competing in Europe for a few weeks in a few International FIS races that included athletes from around the world. He came third in Zagreb in the Giant Slalom event and he followed up his success in Croatia by winning the British Championships in the Giant Slalom event. This was the last race of his European Tour.  

Can Olly please come forward to receive his medals 
 

In Waka Ama 

Three teams competed at the Hawkes Bay Regionals last weekend and we can congratulate Kiato Buxton who finished first in the J16 W1 250m event and Motutapu Whiwhia (Kiato Buxton, Julius Raihania, Davey Simutoga, Kylian Kauvaitupu, Bobby John-Heta and Leedti John-Heta) who finished first in the J16 W6 250m & 500m events. Further congratulations are extended to Motutapu Rawea (John Coka, Darton Reihana, Milan Te Heuheu, Manahi Maddock, Tuumanako Whiunui, Te Kora Hakiwai) who came second in the J16 250m event. 

Can Kiato and Te Kora come forward to receive certificates on behalf of the team. 
 

In Cricket 

Congratulations to the 1st XI who beat Napier Tech on Saturday, thereby qualifying for the semi-final of the RC Macinnes Cup. They will play Havelock North Sher-e-Punjab on Saturday ahead of their trip to Levin for the Central Districts Top 4 tournament on Sunday. 

Congratulations to the 1st XI, 2nd XI and Colts A team who all secured wins in the traditional fixture against Whanganui Collegiate School on Sunday. The 1st XI won by six wickets chasing 197, the 2nd XI won by 4 wickets chasing 126 and the Colts A won by 32 runs defending 204 runs. 

Standout performances included: 

Sam Cranswick 54 for the Colts A, Toby Ross 4/18 and Luv Mohan 4/18 for the 2nd XI 
 

In League 

Our senior and junior teams competed in the Hawkes Bay Secondary Schools tournament which concluded the season. The Senior A team beat Napier Boy’s High School to win the tournament in overtime whilst the Junior A team finished as runners-up having lost 8-12 to St John’s College. 
 

In Swimming 

The Hawkes Bay Secondary Schools Championships were held last week, and we are delighted to report that our team won the Boys Competition ahead of Napier Boys High School and St John’s College. It’s also the second year in a row that we’ve taken out first place overall at the regional event. 

Team results were as follows: 

The Boys 14 & Under Relay team came second in the 100m Individual Medley and Freestyle events.  

Arthur Betty, Levi McEntee, Archie Cole, Hugo Wedd and Conall Rabitte represented the team in this age group. 

The Boys 15 & Under Relay team came first in the 100m Medley Relay and Freestyle events. Sam Skidmore, Monte Douglas, Liam McEntee, William Worthington-Thin and Tom Holder represented the team in this age group. 

Individual results were as follows: 

Arthur Betty – 2nd Boys 13 & Under 50m Freestyle; 1st – Boys 13 & Under 50m Butterfly 

Sam Skidmore – 1st Boys 16 & Over 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle; 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly 

Liam McEntee – 3rd Boys 100m Backstroke 

Levi McEntee – 2nd Boys 13 & Under 50m Breaststroke 

Quentin Young – 3rd Boys 16 & Over 50m Breaststroke 

Hamish McLaren – 2nd Boys 13 & Under 50m Backstroke Can Arthur, Levi, Archie, Hugo, Conall, Sam, Monte, Liam, William, Tom, Quentin and Hamish please come forward to receive their certificates. 
 

In Canoe Polo 

Congratulations to the following boys who were selected to represent Hawkes Bay Canoe Polo last weekend: 

C-Grade: Xavier Fitness, Charlie Baker, Luke Dodd, Blake Sprott 

D-Grade: Danyon Dohmen, Cameron Huckle, James Bishop, George Glover, Oscar Fitness, Leo Baker 

In Boat racing 

Angus Hodson competed in the New Zealand Junior Nationals and New Zealand Junior Series over a five-week period with three races on the North Island and two races on the South Island. He enjoyed a successful few weeks, winning the New Zealand Junior Nationals and New Zealand Junior Series. 

Can Angus please come forward to receive his trophies. 

Rector Comments: 

Thank you, Reid.  

Congratulations to everyone whose been recognised today. 

As we finish today, boys, I want to wish you all the very best for your sport, cultural events, and any other activities you’re involved in this weekend. Represent yourselves, your families, and Lindisfarne well. And looking ahead, next Saturday is our Open Day, a really important occasion for the College. It’s our chance to share this amazing school, our grounds, our people, and our culture with families who may be joining us in the future. Thank you to the boys who have already signed up to be Tour Guides or take part in classroom activities, your willingness to serve the college is appreciated. If anyone else would like to be involved, please head to the Main Office and put your name down; we’ll brief all helpers next week so you know exactly what’s expected. 

As you go into the weekend and the weeks ahead, remember the message of this assembly: rest matters. Look after your mind and your body. Make space for balance. Put the phone down before bed. Breathe when things feel tough. And most importantly, look after each other, spark the chat, share the load, and be the kind of brother this college can be proud of. 

Reverend Dunnett will now close our assembly in prayer. 

Article added: Tuesday 24 March 2026