New students and staff were welcomed to the school via a powhiri. Photos Jaime Pitt-MacKayNew students and staff were welcomed to Ashburton College through their annual powhiri.

The newcomers were led into the ceremony by Kaumatua Tipene Philip and welcomed into the school family by principal Ross Preece.

Current and incoming students exchanged waiata, while Philip and Preece shared speeches.

The powhiri was held outside the school’s whare wananga which recently had its carvings restored for the first time since the building was opened in 1997.

The carvings were created by master carver Vince Leonard and were taken down in February last year to undergo restoration.

After more than 20 years of weathering the carvings were very much in need of work, but their restoration has taken longer than anticipated, because of Leonard’s death part-way through the project.

Fellow carver Damian Peeti, who had worked with Leonard on the original carvings, was able to step in and continue the work with the help of a team of college students.

Their work in restoring the carvings was recognised following the powhiri with a presentation of gifts from Preece.

By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 8 February 2020