Te Kura o Te Paroa
Full Primary · State
- Year levels
- 1–8
- Total roll
- 288
- Enrolment zone
- No
- Gender
- Co-Educational
Where is it, and how do I get in touch?
- Address
- 34 Paroa Road, Whakatane
- Territorial authority
- Whakatane District
- Phone
- 07-3086652
- office@paroa.school.nz
- Website
- http://www.paroa.school.nz
- Directions
- Get directions
Other schools nearby: schools in Bay of Plenty
What would the day look like?
The practical things this school states on its own website — the hours, the uniform, the term dates, and how children get there. These are the school’s own words, not the Ministry’s record and not ERO’s.
Quoted from this school’s own website, as we read it on 13 August 2026. A web page carries no date of its own, so that is the day we read it — not a statement that any of this is still the case. Each line quotes the words it came from.
- Uniform
- Required
All we ask is that you provide your child with a school bag, school uniform and a water bottle.
- Required
- Term dates
- Term 1, 2026: Monday 2nd February – Thursday 2nd April
Term 1 | Monday 2nd February RETURN All current tamariki - Monday Powhiri for all new tamariki - Tuesday | Thursday 2nd April
Year stated as2026 Term Dates
- Term 2, 2026: Monday 20th April – Friday 3rd July
Term 2 | Monday 20th April | Friday 3rd July
Year stated as2026 Term Dates
- Term 3, 2026: Monday 20th July – Friday 25th September
Term 3 | Monday 20th July | Friday 25th September
Year stated as2026 Term Dates
- Term 4, 2026: Monday 12th October – Tuesday 15th December
Term 4 | Monday 12th October | Tuesday 15th December
Year stated as2026 Term Dates
- Term 1, 2026: Monday 2nd February – Thursday 2nd April
What is on offer beyond the classroom?
The sports, arts, clubs and groups this school names on its own website. Not a complete list of what any school offers, and not a count — a school that names more here has written more down, which is not the same as doing more.
Quoted from this school’s own website, as we read it on 13 August 2026. A web page carries no date of its own, so that is the day we read it — not a statement that any of this is still the case. Each line quotes the words it came from.
- On offer
- Winter Sports Day Yr 5&6
Winter Sports Day Yr 5&6 - Rex Morpeth Park
- Winter Sports Day Yr 3&4
Winter Sports Day Yr 3&4 - Rex Morpeth Park
- Winter Sports Day Yr 5&6
Who goes here?
Ethnicity breakdown of the total roll, shown as context. Not ranked, and not compared against any average.
- European
- 43
- Māori
- 286
- Pacific
- 16
- Asian
- 2
- MELAA
- 3
- Other
- 0
- International
- 0
Roll by year level and age
Shown as context, not ranked, not compared to any average. As at 30 June 2026, from the same annual return as the roll count above.
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 01 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 |
| Year 02 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 30 |
| Year 03 | 44 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 44 |
| Year 04 | 40 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 |
| Year 05 | 39 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 40 |
| Year 06 | 42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 42 |
| Year 07 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 |
| Year 08 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| Total | 307 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 308 |
| Māori | Pacific | Asian | MELAA | Other | European/ Pākehā | International students | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 05 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 |
| Age 06 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
| Age 07 | 46 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 46 |
| Age 08 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 |
| Age 09 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 39 |
| Age 10 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 41 |
| Age 11 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 |
| Age 12 | 39 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 |
| Age 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 307 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 308 |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0
Student engagement
Age-standardised stand-down rate per 1,000 students — 2024
17.7%
| Te Kura o Te Paroa | 17.7% |
|---|---|
| Bay of Plenty Region | 37.4% |
| Full Primary | 35.6% |
| State | 40.2% |
| New Zealand | 37.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 24.1% |
|---|---|
| Male | 11.5% |
| Māori | 17.7% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 17.7% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison stand-down rates data (2024)
Age-standardised suspension rate per 1,000 students — 2024
0%
| Te Kura o Te Paroa | 0% |
|---|---|
| Bay of Plenty Region | 3.8% |
| Full Primary | 3.9% |
| State | 4.5% |
| New Zealand | 4.1% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 0% |
| Māori | 0% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 0% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison suspension rates data (2024)
Age-standardised exclusion rate per 1,000 students — 2024
0%
| Te Kura o Te Paroa | 0% |
|---|---|
| Bay of Plenty Region | 1.4% |
| Full Primary | 1.7% |
| State | 1.9% |
| New Zealand | 1.8% |
Trend and demographic breakdown
| Female | 0% |
|---|---|
| Male | 0% |
| Māori | 0% |
| Pacific | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Other | 0% |
| European/Pākehā | 0% |
| Total | 0% |
Source: Education Counts, Ministry of Education, CC BY 4.0 — Table 2: Comparison exclusion data (2024)
About the school
- Equity Index (EQI)
- 520
- Boarding
- No
- Language of instruction
- Some students taught in te reo Māori
- Urban / rural
- Medium urban area
- Date opened
- 25 January 1893
The Equity Index is used by the Ministry to allocate equity funding. It describes the socio-economic barriers a school’s students face, not how good the school is. How the Equity Index works
What did ERO find?
The Education Review Office reviews every school and publishes what it finds in full. We quote ERO’s report here, section by section, in ERO’s own words and order, and link to it. We do not summarise a report, pick a line out of one, or turn one into a score. How ERO reviews schools
- Reports ERO holds
- 3
- Last reviewed
- 4 May 2023
- Latest report
- Te Kura o Te Paroa May 2023
- Report type
- Review report
- Board assurance
- not reported
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 288 — 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.
February 2023
280
Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 4 May 2023
31 July 2017
240
Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 21 September 2017
November 2012
238
Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 15 January 2013
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 4 May 2023 — “Te Kura o Te Paroa May 2023” — 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 hapū me ngā iwi.
2 Te Horopaki
E tū pā tata ana Te Kura o Te Pāroa ki Whakatāne. E whakarato ana te kura i te mātauranga rumaki reo Māori, rumaki reo Pākehā hoki ki ngā tamariki o ngā Tau 1 ki te 8. Nō Ngāti Awa te nuinga o ngā whānau. Ko te hiahia ki te whakapiki ake i ngā paetae ākonga i te tau 2022, i kōkiri i te tini o ngā whakarerekētanga ki te whakaritenga o te kura me ngā mahi whakaako. E whāia tonuhia ana aua mahi.
3 Te Aronga o te Aromātai
He pēhea rawa te whakaatu mai o ngā tamariki i te māramatanga ki tō rātou Ngāti Awatanga?
Ka kitea ki ngā tamariki te māramatanga pai ki te Ngāti Awatanga, i a rātou e whai wāhi atu ana ki ngā āhuatanga katoa o te marau e poipoi ana i ngā mōhiotanga me ngā wheako e hāngai pū ana ki a Ngāti Awa.
4 Ngā Whakaaturanga
E ako ana ngā tamariki i ō rātou hononga ā-ahurea ki te taiao, ā, ka aro nui tēnei ki ngā tikanga, ngā kawa, ngā kōrero tuku iho, ngā mātauranga, me te reo Māori o Ngāti Awa. He aronga ngātahi tō ngā kaiwhakahaere, ngā kaiako, me te whānau o te kura ki te whakapakari tonu i te Ngāti Awatanga, puta noa i ngā whakahaeretanga o te kura. He aronga nui tō te hāhi Ringatū ki te kura. E mārama ana ngā tamariki i te whakahirahiratanga o te hāhi Ringatū, ā, ka whai wāhi mātātoa ki ngā karakia me ngā hīmene o ia rā. Ka ārahi ngā kaumātua i ngā tikanga me ngā kawa i roto i ngā kaupapa ōkawa. Ka whai wāhi nui hoki ki te whakapuaki i ngā kōrero o mua me ngā hītori o te rohe. E whakaatuhia ana ngā tohu me ngā whakaahua, puta noa i te kura. He nui ngā tūmanako o te whānau kia tū ā rātou tamariki hei kanohi mō Ngāti Awa ā meāke nei. E whanake ana ngā tamariki hei kaitiaki o tō rātou iwi.
Ka whai wāhi mātātoa ngā tamariki, ka kitea hoki tō rātou manawa whakahī, puta noa i te whānuitanga o ngā kaupapa me ngā taumahi o te kura. Kua toa te kura i roto i te whakataetae kapa haka ā-motu o Te Mana Kuratahi. He whai wāhitanga tēnā mō ngā tuākana ki te whakaatu i ō rātou pūkenga ārahi me tō rātou tautōhito i roto i ngā toi. He tauira rātou o te hiranga mō ō rātou tēina. E mōhiotia ana te whakaratonga o te tino mātauranga me ngā tino wheako ki ngā tamariki puta noa i te kura, hei whakatutuki i ō rātou matea. Ka āta whakamaheretia ngā tukanga whakawhiti puta noa i te kura, hei akiaki i te angitu o ngā tamariki, inarā mō ngā tamariki hei āta hāpai ake ki te ako. Ka whakaatu ētahi o ngā akomanga i te poutama ako, hei tohu ataata i ngā whāinga ako me ngā hononga whai pūtake ki te whānau. Ka kitea te tākare o ngā tamariki, i a rātou e whai wāhi atu ana ki ngā akoranga, puta noa i te marau.
E whakapakari ana te poari kaitiaki i ā rātou whakaritenga. Kua whakatakotohia te hanganga kāwana. Kei te poari ētahi kaitiaki hou me ētahi kaitiaki tautōhito. E hāpai ana ngā mahere rautaki me ngā mahere ā-tau i ngā kōkiritanga whakatairanga, ā, ka whai hua hoki ki te ārahi i ngā whakahaeretanga o te kura. He rōpū tūtohi o ngā kaimahi whakaako me ngā kaiārahi, ā, ka mahi ngātahi ki te aroturuki i te ahu whakamua ki te whakatutuki i ngā whāinga o te kura. Ka whai wāhi mātātoa atu ngā kaitiaki ki ngā kaupapa o Ngāti Awa, ā, e noho ngākau nui ana ki te whakatairanga ake i ngā whai wāhitanga mātauranga me ngā putanga ki ā rātou ākonga.
Ka arotahi ngā kaiārahi me ngā kaiako ki te whakatairanga. Nō nā noa nei tētahi ohu mahi ārahi i whakarōpūngia ai, ā, ka mahi ngātahi ki te whakarato i te ārahitanga ngaio me te tautoko ngaio ki ngā kaimahi. Kua tīmata noa rātou ki te whakatinana i te aronga Wānanga Ako ki ngā whakaakoranga me ngā akoranga, mā ngā uara o Ngāti Awa. Ko tā Wānanga Ako, he toro atu ki ngā pūmanawa me ngā ngākau nuitanga o ngā kaiako. Kua whakatakotohia ngā whai wāhitanga o te whakawhanaketanga ako ngaio, hei hāpai i ngā kaiako ki te whakawhiti atu ki te aronga hou o te marau. Ka whakatairangatia ngā hononga o ngā tamariki ki a Ngāti Awa, mā te auaha o te ārahitanga i te kura.
Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake
Me whai wāhi ki ngā taumata katoa o ngā whakahaeretanga ki te kura, ko te aromātai o roto pakari. Ahakoa e hāpaitia ana ngā kaiako mā te whakawhanaketanga ngaio, e tika ana hoki te whakapiki ake i tō rātou mōhiotanga, tō rātou māramatanga, me tā rātou whakamahinga o ngā mahi aromatawai whai hua hei whakapai ake i ngā putanga ki ngā tamariki. E mōhio ana ngā kaiārahi, e tika ana kia riterite te aronga aromatawai, tae atu ki ngā whakataunga whānui me ngā mahi whakaōrite a ngā kaiako. E tautokona ana taua kitenga e te aromātai a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga. He mea nui anō hoki kia aroturuki ngā kaiārahi o te kura i te whai pānga o Wānanga Ako ki te whakapai ake i ngā putanga ki ngā tamariki.
Kua tautuhi te rōpū ārahi i ērā o ngā reanga o ngā akomanga auraki me ngā akomanga rumaki, kāhore anō kia ahu whakamua tika. E ai ki ngā hōtuku o te kura mō te tau 2022, mō te ahu whakamua me ngā paetae i roto i te reo matatini me te pāngarau, me whakatere i te ahu whakamua o te nuinga o ngā ākonga, hei whakatutuki ngā tūmanako o te kura. Kāhore anō ngā tamariki kia eke ki ngā taumata teitei o te angitu i roto i te mātauranga.
5 Te Whakatau a te Whānau o te Kōhanga Reo ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga
I te wā o te aromātai, i tirohia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ngā pūnaha mō te whakahaeretanga o ngā wāhanga e whai ake nei:
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 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
ngā kaupapa here o te kura, me te whakatutukitanga o ērā i ngā tikanga e pā ana ki te Children’s Act 2014 .
6 Te Taunakitanga
E taunaki ana Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga me Te Kura o Pāroa, kia tahuri te whānau ki te:
aroturuki i te whai huatanga o Wānanga Ako, me te whai pānga o tēnā ki ngā paetae ākonga
whakapiki ake i te mōhiotanga o ngā kaiako ki ngā whakaritenga aromatawai whai hua
arotahi ki te whakatere i ngā paetae ākonga ā-kura, puta noa i ngā wāhanga matua o te marau.
Rita Walker Toka ā Nuku Whakakapi Te Uepū-a-Motu – Māori Services
04 Haratua , 2023
7 Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te Kura
Te tūwāhi Kei Whakatāne
Te tau a te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga 1888
Te tūmomo kura He kura motuhake
Te tokomaha o ngā ākonga o te kura 280
Ngā hononga ā-iwi Māori 99%, Iwi kē 1%
Ngā āhuatanga motuhake Special Character Designation Kura 156
Te wā i te kura te rōpū arotake Hui-tanguru 2023
Te wā o tēnei pūrongo 4 Haratua , 2023
Ngā pūrongo o mua a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga Arotake Mātauranga, Mahuru 2017; Arotake Mātauranga, Kohi-tātea 2013; Arotake Mātauranga, Mahuru 2009
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 Kura o Te Paroa is located near Whakatāne . The kura provides te reo Māori immersion and English immersion education for tamariki in Years 1-8. Most whānau have affiliations to Ngati Awa. In 2022, a desire to increase student achievement was the catalyst for a number of changes in kura organisation and teaching practices. This remains as work in progress.
3 Evaluation Focus
How well do tamariki demonstrate an understanding of their Ngati Awatanga?
Tamariki demonstrate a good understanding of Ngāti Awatanga as they engage in all aspects of the kura curriculum that fosters knowledge and experiences that is specific to Ngāti Awa .
4 Findings
Tamariki are learning about their cultural connections in an environment that prioritises Ngāti Awa tikanga , kawa , traditions, mātauranga and te reo Māori . There is a united approach by the kura leadership, kaiako and whānau to continue to strengthen Ngāti Awatanga across kura operations. Te hāhi Ringatū has a strong presence in the kura. Tamariki understand the significance of the Ringatū faith and actively participate in the daily rituals of karakia and hīmene . Kaumātua provide guidance in the practices of tīkanga and kawa in formal situations. They are also prominent in retelling stories of the area and historical events. Physical icons and images are represented throughout the kura . The whānau have high expectations that their tamariki will be future ambassadors for Ngāti Awa. Tamariki are developing as kaitiaki for their iwi .
Tamariki are actively engaged and show pride across a range of kura events and activities. The kura has held the national title in Te Mana Kuratahi or the national primary kapa haka competition. This was an opportunity for tuākana to display leadership and expertise in the arts. They are role models of excellence for their teina . There is an awareness that the tamariki across the kura are provided with the best possible education and experiences that respond to their needs. Transition processes across the kura are carefully planned to encourage tamariki success. This is especially notable for those tamariki requiring additional learning support. Some classes display poutama ako that act as visual reminders of the learning goals and focused relationships with whānau. Tamariki show enthusiasm when participating in learning across the curriculum.
The board of trustees are strengthening their practices. Governance infrastructure is in place. The board is made up of new and experienced trustees. Strategic and annual plans support improvement initiatives and successfully guide kura operations. Charter teams made up of teaching staff, leaders who work together to monitor progress toward achieving kura goals. Trustees are active members of Ngati Awa and are committed to improving educational opportunities and outcomes for their learners.
Leaders and teachers are improvement focused. A newly established leadership group work collaboratively to provide professional guidance and support to staff. They are in the early stages of implementing a Wānanga Ako approach to teaching and learning based on Ngati Awa values. Wānanga Ako utilise kaiako strengths and passions. Professional learning and development opportunities are in place to support kaiako to transition to the new curriculum approach. Tamariki connections to Ngati Awa are enhanced through innovative kura leadership.
Key Next Steps
Robust internal evaluation is required at all levels of kura operations. While kaiako are supported through professional development, there is a need to increase their knowledge, understanding and use of effective assessment practice to improve outcomes for tamariki . Leaders recognise the need for a consistent approach to assessment practice including over all teacher judgements and moderation. ERO’s evaluation verifies this. It is equally important that kura leaders monitor the impact of Wānanga Ako on improving outcomes for tamariki .
The leadership team have identified the year levels where insufficient progress has been made in both auraki and rumaki classes. The kura end of 2022 progress and achievement data in literacy and mathematics showed most students require accelerated progress to achieve the school's expectations. Tamariki are yet to achieve high levels of academic success.
5 Board Assurance on Legal Requirements
During the evaluation, ERO checked at the following areas:
emotional safety of students (including prevention of bullying and sexual harassment)
physical safety of students
teacher registration
processes for appointing staff
stand-downs, suspensions,expulsions, and exclusions
attendance
school policies in relation to meeting the requirements of the Children’s Act 2014.
6 Recommendation
ERO and Te Kura o Te Paroa recommends that the whānau :
monitor the effectiveness of Wānanga Ako and its impact on student achievement
increase kaiako knowledge of effective assessment practice
focus on accelerating kura wide student achievement across core curriculum areas.
Rita Walker Acting Toka-ā-Nuku – Director Te Uepū ā-Motu – Māori Review Services
4 May 2023
7 Information about the Kura
Location Whakatāne
Ministry of Education profile number 1888
Kura type Kura Motuhake
Kura roll 280
Ethnic composition Māori 99%, Other 1%
Special features Special Character Designation Kura 156
Review team on site February 2023
Date of this report 4 May 2023
Most recent ERO report(s) Education Review, September 2017; Education Review, January 2013; Education Review, September 2009
Read the full report on ero.govt.nz →
All 3 reports ERO holds for this school
ERO reviews a school every few years — around four years between reviews is the usual cycle — so an older date here reflects where a school sits in that cycle, not how it is doing.
Source: Education Review Office, CC BY 4.0.
Roll date: 30 June 2026 (2026).