Te Ara Whanui Kura Kaupapa Māori o ngā Kōhanga Reo o Te Awa Kairangi

The roll ERO recorded, and when

ERO writes a roll into each report it publishes: a count taken for that report, on the day shown, by the review team that was there. The Ministry of Education’s current roll for this school is 411 — the figure at the top of this page, and the one to use for how big the school is now. These are a different measurement by a different body, so they will rarely agree, and a difference between them is not a change in the school.

1. November 2024

   393

   Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 12 August 2025

2. June 2021

   303

   Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 9 August 2021

We draw no line between these. Each was counted for its own report, years apart, by a different review team, and a roll moves between reviews for reasons none of these figures record — so the difference between any two of them measures nothing.

What ERO wrote in its latest report

This is ERO’s report of 12 August 2025 — “Ngā Kitenga Arotake Report” — section by section, under ERO’s own headings, in ERO’s own order. Nothing is summarised, shortened or reordered.

ERO wrote this report in te reo Māori and in English. Both are here as ERO published them, in ERO’s order, untranslated.

1 He Kupu Arataki

Kua mahi ngātahi Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, ngā whānau, ngā kaiārahi, ngā kaimahi me ngā hapori ki te whakawhanake i ngā tirohanga aromātai e whai wāhi nui ai ki te hāpai i te kawenga takohanga me te whakapaitanga, ki te tautuhi i te ahu whakamua, ā, ki te whakapakari ake hoki i te āheinga ki te aromātai. E hāngai ana tēnei pūrongo ki ā rātou pūnaha, ki ā rātou whakaritenga, me ā rātou mahi whakahaere. Ka whakarato ngā pūrongo a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i ngā mōhiohio mātuatua mā ngā whānau, mā ngā hapū, me ngā iwi.

2 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Ara Whanui Kura Kaupapa Māori o ngā Kōhanga Reo o Te Awa Kairangi ki te hapori o Te Awakairangi, ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara. E whakarato ana te kura i te mātauranga ki ngā ākonga o ngā tau 0 ki te 13. Ko te reo Māori te reo whakaako, ā, e whakaratohia ana te reo Pākehā i ngā tau 7 ki te 13, i runga anō i te hiahia o ngā whānau. He huarahi whakawhitiwhiti, he whiringa mātauranga hoki e wātea ana mō ngā ākonga e rite ana. Kua waihangatia, kua whakatūngia ngā wāhi akoranga hei kura nā te mahi tahi me te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga, hei poipoi mārika i ngā manu pīrere o ngā kōhanga reo o Te Awa Kairangi.

I te tau 2017, i runga i te tono o te rōpū whakahaere o te kura i taua wā, i whakaritea ai te wawaotanga a te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga. Nō te tau 2024 tētahi kaikōmihana hou i whakatūngia ai, ā, nāna i aro pū ki te waihanga me te whakatūnga o tētahi tauira whakahaere e tika ana, tae atu hoki ki tētahi atu turepapa hou. Mai i te tau 2022, kua whakatikangia ngā whare hei kaupare atu i ngā tūāhuatanga huarere. Kua whakawhānui ake ngā whakaakoranga, ā, kua whakatutukihia ngā kōwae whakaako e rua. E whakawhanake ana ngā kaiārahi o te kura i te marautanga Kāhui Kura, i a rātou e whakahaere ana i ngā whakaakoranga me ngā akoranga mā roto mai i ngā wāhi taupua.

He pēhea rawa te pā mai o te angitu me te waiora ki ngā ākonga?

Ka kitea ki ngā ākonga te ngākau titikaha, ā, ka whakawhanake i te angitu mā ō rātou manawa whakahī mō tō rātou ahurea, tō rātou reo, me tō rātou tuakiri.

4 Ngā Whakaaturanga

E whakarato ana te kura i tētahi taiao ako e whakaū ana i ngā mōhiotanga me ngā māramatanga ki Te Awakairangi, hei poipoi i te manawa whakahī me te whakaute o ngā ākonga me te whānau o te kura. Ka arahina te marau ā-kura e Te Marau o Aotearoa, heoi, ko te aronga nui, ko te whakapūmau tonu i te motuhaketanga o te whānau o te kura. Ka whakaaweawetia te marau e ngā mātāpono o Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo, o Te Korowai, o Te Wheke, o Te Whare Tapa Whā hoki. Ko te whanaungatanga, te awhi, te kaitiakitanga, me te aroha ngā uara matua whānui e hāpai ana i ngā whakaakoranga me ngā akoranga. Ka ahu mai ngā akoranga i ngā horopaki hōhonu e whai pūtake ana, e noho tūturu ana, tae atu ki ērā e pā ana ki Te Ao Māori, me te taiao, te hapori, ngā kaupapa, me ngā pūrākau. Ka kitea ki ngā ākonga te māramatanga hōhonu ki te taiao o tō rātou kura mā tā rātou manaaki me te aronga nui o ā rātou mahi ki te māra i te kura, ki te wairākau o ngā kai, ki ngā pāmu noke, me te uru huarākau. Ka whakaaro nui rātou ki tō rātou taiao, ā, koia rā e whakaaweawe ana i te āhua tonu o tā rātou whakarongo, tā rātou titiro, me tō rātou rongo anō hoki i tō rātou kura. Ka tūmāia ngā ākonga, ka whakaatu hoki i te manawa whakahī me te angitu mō rātou anō hei Māori, mā roto mai i ngā whakaakoranga o Te Awa Kairangi.

Kei te kura tētahi mahere tauatanga ki te whakawhanake i ngā kaiārahi mō meāke nei, ki te whakapakari i tā rātou ārahitanga, me te whakarahi ake i te tokomaha e whakatutuki ana i ngā whakaakoranga o te kaiako ngaio. Ka whai pānga nui ngā ākonga ki taua tukanga, ā, ka rongo rātou i te angitu, i ngā whakatutukitanga, i ngā putanga papai hoki o taua whakaritenga. Ko te whakarato i tētahi huarahi ako mō ngā manu pīrere o ngā kōhanga reo o Te Awa Kairangi, ko te hokihoki mai o ngā raukura maha hei mātua, hei kaimahi, ko ngā kuia me ngā koroua me te kaha tautoko mai hoki o te hapori, e hāpai katoa ana i te toitūtanga o te mātauranga ki anamata. Ka kitea ki ngā ākonga me ngā whānau te pakari o te tuakiritanga me te aronga toi whenuatanga, ā, he tūāhuatanga e whakatairanga ana i tō rātou ngākau titikaha me tā rātou angitu.

Ka whakatairangatia te waiora o ngā ākonga nā ngā wheako ako o te ao Māori. E tuitui ana ngā mahere ngātahi a ngā kaiako i ngā taumahi e tūhono ana i ngā ākonga ki ngā mōhiotanga whakahirahira e pā ana ki a rātou anō me tō rātou tūrangawaewae. Ko ngā mahinga i āta whakaritea ai, ko te tāruarua, ko ngā waiata, me te kapa haka ētahi o ngā tino rautaki whakaako e whakamahia ana hei whakapūmau i te hopu i te reo Māori. Ka whai pānga te ako tahi o te tuākana me te tēina ki te tangongitanga o ngā taumahi o ia rā, ki tua atu hoki i te akomanga. He whai wāhitanga mō ngā ākonga ki te uru atu ki ngā hōtaka ki ngā ratonga o waho, ki ngā whare wānanga, ki te mahinga wheako, me ngā tono a ngā rōpū hapori kia tautokona ā rātou kaupapa. Ka whakamanahia ngā ākonga, ka whakamihia rātou i ia te wā, ā, ka whakanuia hoki ā rātou mahi angitu.

Ka aru, ka aroturuki hoki i te ahu whakamua a ngā ākonga, ā, ka whakapuakihia ki te taha o te whānau i ia te wā. Kua waihangatia e te kura tā rātou ake tomokanga ā-ipurangi e kapo atu ai i ngā raraunga taketake. Ka whakamahi i Te Waharoa Ararau, hei whakatau i te tūnga o ngā ākonga i roto i te reo matatini me te pāngarau whai muri i te whakaōritetanga o ngā aromatawai, ā, ka tohu hoki i ngā tūāhuatanga ake i whai pānga ai ki ia ākonga. Ko ngā hōtuku o te kura i te mutunga o te tau 2023 i tohu i te ekenga o te nuinga o ngā ākonga o ngā tau 4 ki te 10 ki ngā tūmanako o te kura – ki tua atu rānei – i roto i te pānui. Neke noa atu i te haurua o ngā ākonga i whakatutuki, i eke ki tua atu rānei i ngā tūmanako i roto i te tuhituhi. Heoi, kāhore i te pērā rawa te kaha o ngā putanga i roto i te kōrero, ā, ko te haurua noa o ngā ākonga i whakatutuki i ngā tūmanako. I eke te nuinga o ngā ākonga o ngā tau 3 ki te 10 ki ngā taumata – ki tua atu rānei – i roto i te pāngarau. Ka whakamahi hoki ngā kaiārahi i ngā hōtuku paetae ki te tautuhi i ngā wāhanga o te marau me ngā whakaakoranga hei whakapakari ake. Ka toro atu ki te ako ngaio me te whakawhanaketanga ngaio e tika ana ki te whakapakari i ngā pūkenga o ngā kaiako, me te whakapai ake i ngā putanga ki ngā ākonga. Ko ngā hōtaka mō te ahu whakamua o ngā ākonga i te tau 2024, e tohu ana i te kōkiri whakamua o ngā whakapaitanga. Ka whakapoutamatia te ako a ngā ākonga o ngā tau 9 me te 10, kia rite ai rātou ki te whakatutuki i Te Taumata Mātauranga ā-Motu kua Taea. Ka noho tonu te whakapai ake i te pāngarau me te reo matatini hei aronga matua mō taua rangapū. E tohu ana ngā hōtuku o Te Taumata Mātauranga ā-Motu kua Taea i te angitu o ngā ākonga ki te whakatutuki i ngā taumata 1 ki te 3 o Te Taumata Mātauranga ā-Motu kua Taea, ki tua atu i ngā pāpātanga paetae ā-motu.

Ko te angitu ā-mātauranga, ā-hākinakina, ā-ahurea hoki o ngā ākonga e whakatairanga tonuhia ana mā roto mai i te toro atu ki ētahi atu rōpū whakahaere ako. Ka whai wāhi atu ngā ākonga ki ngā hōtaka e hāpai ana i tā rātou angitu mā te whakamahere mō ngā huarahi ki anamata. Ko ngā ākonga o te kāhui kura (mai i ngā tau 9 ki te 13) e tautokona ana kia whai i ngā tohu mātauranga i te ipurangi me ngā ratonga whare wānanga. Ka whakatutukihia ngā pepa Mātauranga Māori i Te Wānanga o Raukawa. E āhei ana ki te tūhura i ngā ara ringa rehe mā WELTEC , mā ngā akoranga ringa rehe, ā, ko ngā wheako mahi he whai wāhitanga tūturu ki te whakariterite mō te ao ki tua atu i te kura. I tēnei wā, kei te toro atu ki ngā kaupapa mātanga i roto i te reo Pākehā mā Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu. Ka whakawhanake ngā ākonga i te tino ngākau titikaha ki te tūhura me te whakatau i ō rātou ake huarahi ki anamata.

Nā te tū hei kura motuhake, ko te whakataunga arotorutanga ki waenga i te tamaiti, te whānau, me te kura, e noho matua ana. Koia nei te uara matua o te kura. Kua mauroa te ārahitanga, ā, e ū ana ki te whakapai ake i ngā putanga ki ngā ākonga. E āta māramahia ana e te rōpū ārahitanga te tirohanga, ngā whāinga me ngā tūmanako. Ka tirohia e ngā kaiārahi matua ngā hanganga me ngā tukanga mō te whakatinana i ngā whakaakoranga, ngā akoranga, me ngā mahi aromatawai. E hāpaitia ana te waiora o ngā ākonga ki te whakahaeretanga o ngā kāhui, ā, he mōhiotanga ō ngā kaiako ki ngā ākonga me ō rātou matea. Ka whakatauira ngā kaiārahi i ngā whakaritenga papai o te whakaako, ā, ka tū hei pou ārahi ki ngā kaimahi rangatahi me ngā kaimahi hou. Ko te whakawhanaketanga ngaio o waho me te pakirehua huritao e hāpai ana i ngā kaiako ki te whakawhanake i tō rātou mōhiotanga ngaio, ō rātou pūkenga ngaio, me ā rātou whakaritenga. Ka rere pai ngā mahi a ngā kaiārahi ahakoa ngā wero ka pupū ake nā te whakahou ake i ngā whare o te kura whānui tonu, ā, he iti noa ngā tauwhatinga ka pā ki ngā whakaakoranga me ngā akoranga. E hāpaitia ana ngā matea me te waiora o ngā ākonga e ngā mahi ārahi e whakatutukihia ana ki ngā whakaritenga whakaaro huritao.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake

Kāhore anō kia whakatau te whakaritenga mō te whai a te poari i tētahi atu turepapa kē. I roto i te tau 2021 ki te tau 2024 i ahu whakamua ngā kaiārahi o te kura ki te whakatau i taua take. Kua roa te wā, ā, he tukanga tonu tēnei kāhore anō kia whakatutukihia e te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga. I roto i ngā tau tata kua pahure ake nei, kua pai ake ngā whakahaeretanga, ngā pūnaha, me ngā whakaritenga o te kura. Kua tae ki te wā kia whakatinanahia tētahi mahere whakariterite kia āhei ai te hapori o te kura ki te whakatutuki i ngā tūranga, ngā kawenga mahi, me ngā tūmanako i te turepapa hou.

Me whakamārama ake, me whakapai ake hoki i ētahi tūāhuatanga o ngā mahi aromatawai. Ahakoa te auau o te tukanga ki te whakaemi me te pūrongo i ngā paetae ākonga, e whakatau tahi ana Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga me ngā kaiārahi o te kura, ko te mahi ka whai ake i nāianei, ko te whakapakari i ngā pūkenga o ngā kaimahi ki te tātari hōtuku, hei kaupapa anō hoki o ō rātou huarahi ngaio, ā, e taea ana ngā hōtuku te āta whakamahi ake hei whakawhanake i ngā taumata, hei whakamōhio i ngā mahere rautaki me ngā whakataunga rauemi, ā, hei whakawhanake i ngā whakaritenga whakapaitanga mō ētahi o ngā wāhanga tonu o te marau, mō ngā matea rānei o ngā rangapū ākonga.

5 Te Whakatau a te Poari ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga

I mua atu i te aromātai i whakatutukihia e te poari me te tumuaki he Tauāki Kupu Tūturu a te Poari mā Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, me tētahi Rārangi Arowhai Tātari Whaiaro. I roto i aua tuhinga i oati rātou i whāia e rātou ngā huarahi whai take hei whakatutuki i ā rātou herenga ā-ture e pā ana ki:

ngā whakahaere a te poari

te marautanga

ngā whakahaere mō te hauora, te haumaru, me te oranga tinana

ngā whakahaere o ngā kaimahi

ngā whakahaere o te pūtea

ngā whakahaere o ngā rawa.

I te wā o te arotake, i whakamātauhia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ngā āhuatanga i raro iho nei, i te mea he nui te pānga o ēnei ki te haumaru me te waiora o ngā ākonga:

te haumaru aronganui o ngā ākonga (tāpiri atu ki te ārai i ngā mahi whakawetiweti me ngā mahi whakaaito)

te haumaru ā-tinana o ngā ākonga

te rēhitatanga me te tiwhiketetanga o ngā kaiako

ngā tukanga ki te whakatū kaimahi

te whakaunu, te aukati, te pana me te whakarerenga

te tae ā-tinana atu a ngā ākonga ki te kura

te whakatutukitanga i ngā tikanga e pā ana ki te Children’s Act 2014 .

6 Te Taunakitanga

E taunaki ana Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga me te tumuaki kia whakatutukihia e ngā kaiārahi ngā whakaritenga matua i whakaraupapahia ai ki tēnei pūrongo.

Tiwana Hibbs Toka ā Nuku - Director Te Uepū ā-Motu – Māori Review Services

12 Hereturikōkā 2025

7 Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te Kura

Te tūwāhi Kei Te Awakairangi

Te tau a te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga 1670

Te tūmomo kura He kura hiato ( Tau 1-13)

Te tokomaha o ngā ākonga o te kura 393

Ngā hononga ā-iwi Māori 100%

Ngā āhuatanga motuhake He kura motuhake

Te wā i te kura te rōpū arotake Whiringa-ā-rangi 2024

Te wā o tēnei pūrongo 12 Hereturikōkā 2025

Ngā pūrongo o mua a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga Arotake Mātauranga, Here-turi-kōkā 2021; Arotake Mātauranga, Here-turi-kōkā 2018; Arotake Mātauranga, Haratua 2012

1 Introduction

The Education Review Office (ERO) in collaboration with whānau , leaders, kaimahi and their communities develop evaluation insights that foster accountability and improvement, identify progress and build evaluation capability. This report reflects their systems, operations and management practices. ERO’s reports provide important information for whānau, hapū and iwi .

2 Context

Te Ara Whanui Kura Kaupapa Māori o ngā Kōhanga Reo o Te Awakairangi is in Lower Hutt, Wellington. The kura provides education for learners in Years 0-13. While the language of instruction is te reo Māori, English is provided from Years 7-13 in response to whānau wishes. Transitional and academic options are available and based on learner readiness. The kura was purposefully designed and built, in agreement with the Ministry of Education (MoE) as a commitment to Te Kōhanga Reo graduates of Te Awa Kairangi.

In 2017, at the request of the kura governance of the time, an MoE intervention was established. In 2024, a new Commissioner was appointed who had a deliberate focus on the design and establishment of an appropriate governance model including, an alternative constitution. Since 2022, the kura has been undergoing weather tightness remediation. Teaching capacity has been expanded with the completion of two modular teaching blocks. Kura leaders are developing the Kāhui Kura curriculum while operating from temporary teaching and learning spaces.

How well do learners experience success and wellbeing?

Learners demonstrate confidence and develop success through their pride in their culture, language and identity.

4 Findings

The kura provides a learning environment where knowledge and understanding of Te Awakairangi fosters pride and respect in learners and the kura whānau . While the marau ā-kura is guided by Te Marau o Aotearoa, maintaining the motuhaketanga of the kura whānau is paramount. The marau is influenced by the principles of Te Whāriki ā Te Kōhanga Reo , Te Korowai, Te Wheke and Te Whare Tapa Whā. Whanaungatanga, awhi, kaitiakitanga and aroha are the over-arching core values that support teaching and learning. Learnings are drawn from rich, meaningful and authentic contexts including, Te Ao-ā-Māori, ā-taiao, ā-hapori, ā-kaupapa, ā-pūrākau. Learners demonstrate an in-depth understanding of their kura environment through the care and attention they give to their work with the kura māra, kai composting worm farms and orchard. They are tuned in to their environment which influences the way they hear, see and feel about their kura . Learners are confident and demonstrate pride and success in who they are as Māori through the learnings of Te Awa Kairangi.

The kura has in place a succession plan to develop future leaders to strengthen their leadership and build on their pool of professional teaching graduates. Learners are an integral part of this process and experience the successes, achievements, and positive outcomes of this design. The provision of a learning pathway for kōhanga reo graduates from Te Awa Kairangi, as well as the return of many raukura as mātua, kaimahi, kuia and koroua and with strong support from the community, advocates an education with a sustainable future. Learners and whānau demonstrate a strong sense of identity and belonging, enhancing their confidence and success.

Learners’ wellbeing is enhanced through te ao Māori learning experiences. Collaborative kaiako planning incorporates a range of activities that connect learners to important knowledge about who they are and where they are from. Well established routines, repetition, waiata and kapa haka are some of the deliberate teaching strategies utilised to reinforce te reo Māori acquisition. The practice of tuākana tēina extends across a range of daily activities that extends beyond the classroom. Learners have opportunities to participate in programmes through external academic providers, whare wānanga, work experience, and invitations from community groups to support their events. Learners are valued, praised often and their successes are celebrated.

Learner’s progress is tracked, monitored and regularly shared with whānau . The kura have designed their own portal to capture raw data. The use of Te Waharoa Ararau, to position learners after moderation is also used for te reo matatini and pāngarau including identifying specific circumstances for individual learners. Kura data at the end of 2023 show most learners in Years 4 to 10 achieved at or above kura expectations in pānui . Just over half met or exceeded expectations in tuhituhi similarly, outcomes were not as strong in kōrero , where only half of the learner’s met expectations. Most learners in Years 3 to 10 achieved at or above expectations in pāngarau . Leaders also use achievement data to identify curriculum areas and where teaching requires strengthening. Appropriate professional learning and development is accessed to build kaiako capability and improve outcomes for learners. Data about learner progress in 2024 shows a trajectory of improvement. Years 9 and 10 students are scaffolded into readiness to attain National Certificates in Educational Achievement (NCEA). Improving numeracy and literacy remain a focus for this cohort. NCEA data shows that students are successful in attaining Levels 1-3 of NCEA, above national achievement rates.

Learners’ academic, sporting and cultural success is further enhanced through collaborations with other learning organisations. Learners participate in programmes that support their success through planning for future pathways. Kāhui kura (Years 9-13) students are supported to pursue qualifications online and with tertiary providers. Mātauranga Māori papers are undertaken with Te Wānanga o Raukawa. Vocational pathways can be explored through WELTEC, the tertiary trades courses and work experience provides authentic opportunities to prepare for life after kura . Specialist subjects in English are currently accessed through Te Aho o te Kura Pounamu. Learners develop a high level of confidence to explore and to determine their future.

As a kura motuhake, the tripartite agreement between the tamaiti , the whānau and the kura are paramount. This is a core value of the kura . Long serving leadership is committed to improving learner outcomes. The vision, goals and expectations are well understood by the Leadership Team. Senior leaders oversee the structures and processes to implement teaching, learning and assessment practices. Learner wellbeing is supported through the organisation of the whare syndicates where kaiako have an awareness of learners and their needs. Leader’s role model good teaching practice and provide mentoring to young and new staff. External professional development and reflective inquiry help kaiako to develop their professional knowledge, skills and practice. Leaders contend with the extra challenge of schoolwide ongoing renovations with minimal disruption to the core business of teaching and learning. Learner needs and wellbeing is supported through reflective leadership practices.

Key Next Steps

The decision to have an alternative constitution for the Board has not yet been resolved. Between 2021-2024, kura leaders have progressed toward resolving this issue. After a prolonged period, it remains with the Ministry of Education to finalise the process. Kura operations, systems and practices have improved in recent years. It is timely to implement a readiness plan for the kura community to fulfil the roles, responsibilities and expectations of the alternative constitution.

Aspects of assessment practice require clarifying and improving. While the process of collating and reporting student achievement data is regular, ERO and kura leaders agree that building kaimahi capabilities in analysing data is a next step in their professional journey and that data could be used better to develop targets, inform strategic planning and resourcing decisions, and for developing improvement plans for specific curriculum areas or student cohort needs.

5 Board Assurance on Legal Requirement

Before the evaluation, the Board of trustees and Principal completed the Board Assurance Statement and Self-Audit Checklists. In these documents they attested that they had taken all reasonable steps to meet their legislative obligations related to:

board administration

curriculum

management of health, safety and welfare

personnel management

financial management

asset management.

During the evaluation, ERO checked the following items because they have a potentially high impact on student safety and wellbeing:

emotional safety of students (including prevention of bullying and sexual harassment)

physical safety of students

teacher registration and certification

processes for appointing staff

stand-downs, suspensions, expulsions and exclusions

attendance

compliance with the Children’s Act 2014.

6 Recommendation

ERO and the tumuaki recommend that leaders address the key next steps outlined in this report.

Tiwana Hibbs Toka ā Nuku - Director Te Uepū ā-Motu – Māori Review Services

12 August 2025

7 Information about the Kura

Location Lower Hutt

Ministry of Education profile number 1670

Kura type Composite (Years 1-13)

Kura roll 393

Ethnic composition Māori 100%

Special features Kura Motuhake

Review team on site November 2024

Date of this report 12 August 2025

Most recent ERO report(s) Education Review, August 2021; Education Review, August 2018; Education Review, May 2012

Read this report on ero.govt.nz →