Speech: Peters - Opening of New Buildings at Tomarata School 25 Aug 2017
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Winston Peters: Speech - Opening of New Buildings at Tomarata School
Rt Hon
Winston Peters
New Zealand First
Leader
Member of Parliament for Northland
25 AUGUST
2017
Speech for opening of new buildings
at Tomarata School,
Cnr School Rd and
Pakiri Block Rd, Wellsford
Friday
August 25, 2017
1.30pm
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME
AT TOMARATA SCHOOL
Thank you for the
invitation to this great occasion – the opening of these
wonderful new school buildings.
Having attended rural
schools just like yours walking into a school like this
brings back many memories.
It teachers one to be more
grateful to parents and teachers for the great opportunities
they give you.
TAKING A LOT FOR GRANTED
When you are young you take a lot for
granted.
You like to go and play netball or rugby and to
hang out with your friends and maybe you only do your
homework because that is something you have to do.
You
don’t think about how hard it is for your parents
sometimes.
You know – the meals you eat at home don’t
just appear when mum and dad snap their fingers.
They
have to find money to pay for that food; they have to pay
for the house you live in, the bed you sleep in and the
clothes you wear – so there’s much no matter how young
you are to think about.
Some of you come each day to
school on a bus.
The driver of your bus has to be very
careful; it’s a big responsibility.
And at school –
your teachers take their jobs very seriously.
They have
had to spend years getting properly trained just so they can
teach you what you need to know.
Every day they have to
plan lessons, and check your work.
These teachers love it
when you make progress.
They know that you must learn
properly.
Yes, there has to be time for fun and playing
your sports and games, but when it comes time for you to
leave Tomarata School they want you to take with you not
just lots of happy memories, but a good education.
PLAYING YOUR PART
Enjoy all the fun
things of school but when you are in the classroom or doing
your homework give it your very best.
Try your
hardest.
LITTLE THINGS CAN BE BIG
THINGS
You don’t have to do big things, just
little things like having the courage to ask for help when
you need it.
Admitting you don’t know something or you
don’t get what the teacher is saying or that you are
struggling does take courage.
It shouldn’t, but it
does.
Remember no-one knows everything.
So don’t be
afraid to ask for help.
Some other little things you can
do are saying to yourself:
• “I’m really
going to pay attention in class”.
• “I’m
going to spend this week reading a book”.
•
“I’m going to do all my homework.”
•
“I’m not going to spend so much time watching
TV.”
Richie McCaw - you all know who he is.
He
didn’t become an All Black by watching loads of TV and
spending hours on play station.
He wasn’t born a great
rugby player – he only became a great All Black through
hard work.
Now he is a helicopter pilot and owns a
helicopter company; some people say he is the greatest ever
All Black.
NOT ALL ABOUT YOU
And
don’t be disappointed if things don’t go your
way.
That’s one of the big lessons you will learn here
at Tomarata School.
It’s not always going to go your
way.
There are other people in this school and every one
of them is just as important as you.
Sometimes they are
more deserving than you.
You have to remember
that.
Don’t play the blame game.
Don’t go and
tease other children, don’t be a bully.
That works
against you; it hurts other children but in the end it
damages you more than anyone else.
When you don’t
get the result you want or the chance you thought you should
get – be positive.
Say ‘never mind – there will be
other chances for me. It’s up to me and my attitude. And
my attitude is good’.
PERSEVERANCE
Dust yourself down, get
up, keep going and have another go.
How many here have
read Harry Potter books?
Do you know how many times the
writer of those books, JK Rowling, was rejected before her
first Harry Potter book was published?
The answer – 12
times.
She didn’t give up; she just kept going – she
just kept trying.
If she had given up, no-one would have
heard of Harry Potter.
Now nearly everyone knows the name
Harry Potter.
And if you get into some hot water; it’s
not the end of the world; don’t let it beat you
down.
It just means you need to lift your game; you need
to try harder to be a good student, a good brother or
sister; a good son or daughter, a better friend.
DON’T HAVE REGRETS
Finally, don’t
be the boy or girl who leaves Tomarata School and years
later says – “why didn’t I try harder; why didn’t I
do better?”
Leave here and say, “I did my hardest and
it was great.”
Congratulations again on your great new
buildings.
Thank you.
ENDS
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