Nateva supporting new opportunities for Ngata Memorial College students
For students at Ngata Memorial College, the chance to compete in regional sports tournaments and access much-needed learning tools is now a reality, thanks to Nateva.
Over the past two years, Nateva has contributed more than $10,000 to Ngata Memorial College, to support student participation in school sports. This funding has helped cover travel, accommodation, uniforms, and tournament fees – allowing students who might have otherwise missed out, to take part and represent their school with pride.
Ngata Memorial College Principal Peter Heron says fundraising is always a struggle for a remote area school which serves a demographic that regularly faces economic and social challenges.
“This is especially so as sports events are a considerable distance away,” says Peter. “For example, Area Sports this year is in Whangarei, and the weekly netball tournament is a two-hour drive away in Gisborne.
“We appreciate that Nateva is able to help our tamariki’s aspirations and allow them to compete nationally in events that would otherwise stretch our finances.”
Nateva’s support goes beyond sports. Recognising that digital access can also be a barrier for rural students, the company has just donated 12 laptops to the school. These devices provide students with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom and stay connected to online learning resources.
“These laptops are being issued to some of our Year 12 and 13 students, as this allows them to work from home in the evenings using higher-level software,” says Peter. “We had 8 out of 12 students complete University Entrance in 2025, so we are working hard to ‘normalise’ achievement.”
Peter says students in the current Year 13 class have a broad variety of career aspirations, from business ownership and the legal profession to aviation and the military. However, farming or forestry will be the chosen field for around half the class.
“Nateva’s vision resonates with our school as several of our students wish to go into forestry, and all have whanau in the industry”
By investing in both educational and extracurricular opportunities, Nateva is helping Ngata Memorial College students develop their skills, confidence, and leadership – preparing them not just for tournaments, but for life beyond the classroom.