08/06/2026
Kia ora Gisborne Intermediate whānau,
Our annual exchange with Whakatāne Intermediate is fast approaching, with students and staff arriving in Gisborne on Thursday 18th June and taking part in a full programme of activities on Friday 19th June.
For many of our students, the Whakatāne Exchange is one of the highlights of their time at Gisborne Intermediate. The exchange has been running for many years and provides opportunities for students to build friendships, experience new activities, and create memories that last long after they leave intermediate school.
To make this special event possible, we need the support of our wider school community. We are seeking whānau who are willing to host one or more visiting students on the evening of Thursday 18th June.
One of the great things about billeting is that your child does not need to be participating in one of the exchange teams to be involved. Hosting a student is a fantastic way for any Gisborne Intermediate family to be part of the exchange experience and share in the excitement of welcoming our visitors to Tairāwhiti.
Visiting students will be ready for collection from Gisborne Intermediate from approximately 2:30pm on Thursday afternoon. Students can be hosted individually or in pairs, and simple sleeping arrangements such as mattresses or shared bedrooms are perfectly acceptable.
On Friday morning, we ask host families to:
• Provide students with some morning tea.
• Drop students back to Gisborne Intermediate by 8:30am.
A timetable for the exchange is attached so you can see the range of activities taking place across the two days.
Hosting a student is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate manaakitanga and give back to a school community that has welcomed many Gisborne Intermediate students into their homes over the years. Without the support of our whānau, events such as this simply could not happen.
If you are able to help, please complete the short form below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRccTYX3D2BbzUGOmoi_fL86oopFRn3FRO_A1HzOcl5HZWmQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=112257352226699696209
Thank you in advance for supporting what is truly one of the highlights of the Gisborne Intermediate calendar. We look forward to another memorable exchange with our friends from Whakatāne Intermediate.
Ngā mihi,
Wayne Ensor
[email protected]
Sports Coordinator
Gisborne Intermediate
