By Lindy LairdNorthland College may have made history among mainstream New Zealand schools by choosing two students who both use wheelchairs as head prefects. The head boy and girl named a week ago at the Kaikohe secondary school's prizegiving are Te Kopa Kopa and Aroha Lawrence. Te Kopa and Aroha, who are second cousins, were born with physical disabilities; Te Kopa due to spina bifida and Aroha has achondroplasia with associated spinal and other health issues. Te Kopa is in the school's Te Ara Whaanui Kapa Haka Group and has also represented Northland and New Zealand in the under-23 wheelchair basketball team for the past two years. Te Kopa thanked his family and everyone else who encouraged him to go for the top position.

Source: New Zealand Herald November 18, 2016 17:06 UTC