Year 7 students took part in our annual harakeke (flax) planting on Monday, symbolising their connection to Marsden and its core values. 

Each class planted five harakeke plants, each one representing our school values and grounding them in the Marsden community. 

Chaplain Sarah King led a blessing and prayer, reminding us that these plants are not only a reflection of our school's values but also of our connection to the land. She shared, "May these harakeke plants also be a symbol of our belonging to this whenua, this land; and to this kura, this school. We give thanks that you are with us in all of creation." 

The planting was inspired by the whakataukī He kākano āhau—"I am a seed"—a powerful expression of ancestral connection, cultural identity, and growth. As these harakeke grow, so too will the students who planted them, rooted in the values of Marsden.