People’s Choice
The Selwyn Awards is a way in which we show our respect and thanks to the hard working individuals and teams within our communities. And as Brian Solis, world-renowned digital anthropologist, so gracefully put it;
“Community is much more than belonging to something; it’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter”.
The People’s Choice award, an award as titled, is chosen by the people of Selwyn. From the selection of applicants, our residents vote for who they would like to see accept the award, and once all the votes are in and counted, a winner is crowned, so to speak!
Waitaha School was our well deserving winner for the People’s Choice category in 2021. As a Specialist Education School, educating Selwyn’s young people with intellectual and physical disabilities, Waitaha makes a big difference within our community and truly helps Selwyn to be a place worth belonging to.
Waitaha School embraces young people aged between 5 and 21 years, and occupies five sites: satellites at West Rolleston School, Knight Stream School and Rolleston College. They also have a Community Hub temporarily located at the Rolleston Rugby Clubrooms. They aim to prepare young students and pupils to live within the community whilst at the same time preparing Selwyn community for their young people. Young people with disabilities deserve equitable access within our Selwyn community and Waitaha School strongly believes and advocates that they should be seen by community members as COMMUNITY MEMBERS. This is their home and should feel as much part of it as anyone else.
Waitaha School loves Selwyn because there is so much to do, with abundant social interactions and accessibility between places in the area. Waitaha young people enjoy the pool, Sports Centre, local cafés, community walks, work experience in the local schools, engaging with all aspects of the Kahui Ako including cultural celebrations along with bussing between Rolleston and Lincoln. They learn so much from being present in this community, and enjoy participating in all things local: the Arts, local work experience, selling products at local markets, engaging with Taumutu marae and so much more. Waitaha School is incredibly thankful to Selwyn for providing so many awesome activities for their young people
Waitaha School was thrilled to receive the Gold Award for Innovation and Diversity and they were also happily stunned to receive the Overall People’s Choice award at the 2021 Selwyn Business Award event.
“This meant such a lot to us, as a small specialist School in this district. The awards are fantastic, but it is the acknowledgement by members of this community which adds the real value.”- Maureen Allan, Principal of Waitaha Specialist School
Waitaha School applied for the award as a way of building recognition within the community and acknowledging diversity. We are extremely humbled and honoured to hear that they are of the view that Selwyn District Council has led the way nationally, with the signing of the 2019 Disability Charter, which gave them the reassurance that their local council not only acknowledged disability but encouraged disabled people to be involved in the community. They were fortunate to have been involved in some of the inclusive design work within Te Ara Atea and felt that the time was right to extend an awareness of their school and the importance of recognising and accepting disability within the community.
Winning the award has reconfirmed to Waitaha School that the work they contribute to the community is recognised and respected. Since the award, they have seen an increase in work experience placements and community work which they think is largely as a result of the award.
“The Ministry of Education have been extremely complimentary in acknowledging our success. This has been shared with MOE National Office as an example of authentic community engagement. The Selwyn District Council certainly is true to the underlying tenet of the Disability Charter 2019. Waitaha School is very blessed to be in this community and the wider Selwyn District.” - Maureen Allan
We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Waitaha School and its young people!