Wesley College students and staff represented the school at the All Blacks’ presentation of a taonga in the form of a Bench, one of 26 to be installed throughout the motu. 

The Bench at Paerata Rise is in memory of Wesley College past student Jonah Lomu.

It was wonderful that of the three All Blacks who made the presentation - Dalton Papali’i, Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Nepo Laulala - that Nepo is also a past student of the College too. 

The Bench is built with the kaupapa of ‘manaaki - reciprocity’ that when we uphold the mana and wairua, spirit of others before our own, we too will benefit. 

The tohu takes the form of a bird which takes flight from Aotearoa just as the All Blacks’ team will perform on the world stage. At the center of the eyes of the bird are two seeds shaped like rugby balls representing our potential. As the wings unfurl our potential is released lifting us all up. No matter how our flight might take shape by truly embracing each other we have succeeded already. 

‘Me eke mai … our bench is your bench’ and encourages people to come together, to connect to share. 

Thank you to our students who represented us well in song and haka and we wish the All Blacks well in their campaign and lead up to the World Cup.