Piper Hunt was on the hunt for Murchison Area School’s top academic gong to ensure it wasn’t a pipe dream.
Bestowed the honour not only for her finesse in English, sciences and mathematics with NCEA Levels 1 and 2 endorsed with merit and excellence respectively, but also being a “wāhine toa” and upholding the kura’s values in her head girl responsibilities.
“It was a pretty big deal for me,” she gushes.
“I always wanted to be a leader, always wanted to help people, and then as I got older I realised being head girl and dux would benefit my future so much.”
“So very proud of myself, and I think my younger self would be very proud as well.”
The path to dux was a stretch for Piper from her pre-high school years which were largely in Rangiora, before relocating to Murchison in late 2017 after her father established Murchison Heli Tours.
“This year I got top student in mathematics, English and biology but I struggled in math quite a bit when I was younger, and I remember going to special classes at past schools for reading and English because I was so behind,” she reflects.
“It was probably when I started wearing glasses that I improved. So it wasn't necessarily struggling to understand, it was probably struggling to see.
“When we got our math teacher, Mr Wallis, he just made math so easy to understand, and I started getting really good then.”
Piper’s other plaudits include representing the South Island in kī-o-rahi at the 2024 New Zealand Area Schools Tournament.
As an injury-prone short stature sportswoman who was diagnosed with a patellar malalignment, it strengthened Piper’s interest in studying physiotherapy at the University of Otago, which she’ll begin next year with $23,000 in scholarships to soothe its stiff price.
The “beautiful” mountains and river in the sleepy Tasman town and her close bond with her three other year 13 peers have engrossed Piper, but the 18-year-old now awaits dramatic coastline, Scottish heritage and student culture in the southern city.
“As lovely as the people are [in Murchison], there aren't very many of us, and I'd love to be able to widen my friendship circle and explore stuff about myself and my whakapapa.”
