Kei te hoa manawanui, kei te tuakana ngākaunui tēnā rā koe.

Pūtahi awa nui, Pūtahi awa iti. Pūtahi tangata. Pūtahi kāinga.

E hika, ko koe te pūtahitanga o ngā whakaaro, o ngā wawata, o ngā pūkenga o te tangata.

Pūtahi manawa ora mau tonu, mau tonu nei. Ko ō kupu, mau tonu, mau tonu nei.

A crossroad of the rivers large and small; a gathering place and home of the people.

You my friend are the embodiment of the thoughts, the aspirations, and the skills brought together in this place of intertwined human endeavour.

The heart of Pūtahi will always beat strong; your words will always ring true.

The name Gerard MacManus first became known to the wider teaching profession when Digital Technologies in NZ was formally launched. He involved himself in every big thing from that point on. If there was a link that someone needed, it would be posted up almost instantaneously. Gerard was the perfect kind of teacher as he never forgot what it was like to be a kid.

We are deeply saddened to let you know that Gerard MacManus passed away on the morning of Thursday 9 July. During his last days and hours he was surrounded by family and close friends. His family wants to thank you for the support and friendship they have experienced. We will continue to support them through our existing support network.

Celebration of life

Gerard’s celebration of life was held at St Bede’s College in Christchurch. It was an absolute tribute to the man he was. If anyone would like to send kind words or condolences to his family, they can be sent to:

Burnside High School, PO Box 29677, Christchurch 8440 C/- John Creighton, Thinking of Gerard MacManus Or email secretary@dtta.org.nz

Gerard set up The Gerard MacManus Innovation Award , which is a scholarship at Hobsonville Point Secondary School and we know he’d be incredibly humbled for donations in lieu of flowers. If you feel you’d like to donate, the details are below:

• HPSS Bank Account: 12-3119-0242094-00
• Reference: G erard Award

Gerard began his teaching career in 2003 as Teacher of Digital Technologies at Papatoetoe High School. In 2011, he became Head of Digital Technologies at St Bede’s College and four years later was appointed Learning Design Leader – Technology at Hobsonville Point Secondary School. He was President of NZACDITT and Digital Technologies Teachers Aotearoa, and last year took up the role of Teacher in Residence – Computer Science Education Research Group at the University of Canterbury.

Earlier this year, DTTA and UC CSERG planned with Gerard to run an event called Ara Ako. Unfortunately, this wasn’t to be but it will run at a future time and encompass everything that Gerard wanted for his students and the teacher he was.

May your memories of Gerard be your treasured moments in time. E moe e te rangatira, i tõ moengaroa.

Kind regards, John Creighton, Jack Morgan, Arnika Macphail, Tracy Henderson, Chris Dillon, and Tim Bell on behalf of Gerard’s family.

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