Te Kura o Waharoa

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 41 — 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. July 2025

   36

   Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 27 November 2025

2. September 2022

   25

   Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 24 November 2022

3. 25 June 2018

   38

   Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 22 August 2018

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 27 November 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 Kura o Waharoa ki Waharoa, e pā tata atu ana i te marae o Raungaiti. Neke atu i te iwa tekau tau te kaumātuatanga o te kura nei, ā, nō te tau 2000 te kura i tūhono atu ai ki Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa. He hononga ā-whakapapa ō ngā whānau me ngā uri ki ngā iwi o Ngāti Hauā rātou ko Ngāti Te Ora, ko Ngāti Rangi Tawhaki.

He pēhea rawa te whakaatu mai a ngā uri i tō rātou mātau ā-wairua, ā-tinana, ā-whatumanawa, ā-tangata hoki?

Kei te kaha whakatinana ngā uri i ngā pūmanawa o te Manu Tāiko, ā, e puāwai mai ana hei kaiārahi mō ō rātou whānau, ō rātou hapū, me ō rātou iwi.

4 Ngā Whakaaturanga

E poipoi ana te marau ā-kura i te manawa whakahī me te tino aronga toi whenuatanga mō ngā uri i tō rātou kura me te hapori whānui. Ka hāngai pū te marau ā-kura ki Waharoa, ā, kua whakawhanakehia, kua arahina e te tirohanga e meatia ana, “Kuhuna te Waharoa kia whitikina te reo, te wairua, me ngōna tikanga” . Kei te tautāwhi māoriori nei ngā uri i ngā pūmanawa o ngā tūpuna, ā, he manawa whakahī nō rātou ki te whakapūmau i ngā wawata o ō rātou whānau, ō rātou hapū, me ō rātou iwi. Ka ārahi ngā uri i ngā karakia, ngā mihimihi, ngā mōteatea, me ngā waiata i ngā whakatau mō ngā manuhiri. Ka tautāwhitia ngā mātāpono me ngā uara i whakawhanakehia e ngā Manu Tāiko, ā, ka poipoi i te papai o ngā hononga e whai pūtake ana. Ka whai wāhi ki tēnā, ko te hāngai pū o te titiro ki te whakapakari i ngā hononga ā-hapori ki te marae o Raungaiti me ngā kōhanga reo o te takiwā. Ko tētahi whakatutukitanga nui whakaharahara, ko te hokinga o te kura nō nā noa nei ki te whakataetae kapa haka ā-rohe, ā, koia nei te wā tuatahi i roto i te tekau tau. He whai wāhitanga pai tēnei mō ngā uri ki te whakaatu i tō rātou manawa whakahī me ō rātou pūkenga. Kei te hihiri, kei te whai pūtake hoki ngā taiao ako, ā, kua āta waihangatia ngā wāhi hei whakatairanga ake i te whai wāhi atu me te mātau ā-whatumanawa. Ka whakapūmau ngā uri i ngā tikanga i roto i tō rātou kura me tō rātou hapori mā te ngākau titikaha.

Ka whai wāhi atu ngā uri ki tētahi hōtaka akoranga e aro nui ana ki a rātou. Ka hāngai te marau ki ngā wawata o ngā whānau, ā, ka tūhura i ngā kaupapa pērā i te mana, te whakapapa, me te waiora. Kei te hihiri ngā hōtaka akoranga, kua waihangatia ki ngā ngākau nuitanga o ngā uri, ā, kua whakahāngaitia te maramataka hei tautoko i te papai o te whai wāhi atu. E whakapuakihia ana te tino nuinga o ngā akoranga mā te reo ā-iwi o Ngāti Hauā. Ka kōkirihia ngā akoranga o Te Paipera Tapu e tētahi kaumātua, ā, ka poipoi i ngā whakapono e whakahōnore ana, e whakapūmau ana hoki i te tirohanga o tō rātou tupuna, o Wiremu Tāmihana Tarapīpipi Te Waharoa. Ka whai hua ngā uri nā te uru atu ki ngā wheako i waho atu i te akomanga, ā, he aronga tēnā ka hāpai, ka whakatōpū, ka whakanui hoki i ngā whakatutukitanga o roto i ngā kaupapa ako. E whakatutuki pai ana te tino nuinga o ngā uri i roto i te reo matatini me te pāngarau. Kua whakatakotohia ngā hōtaka e whakatere ai, e hāpai ai hoki i ngā uri e mau ana i ētahi atu matea. Ka hāpai ngā kaiako mātanga me ngā hōtaka i te papai o ngā putanga ā-mātauranga. Ka whakaaro huritao ngā kaiako, ka whakatinana i ngā tukanga aromātai e whakamōhio ana i te whakapai tonutanga o te hōtaka akoranga. E whakamanahia ana ngā uri kia tupu ai ō rātou pūmanawa mā roto mai i te hōhonutanga o te ahurea me te taiao tautoko.

Ka aro nui te poumarumaru me ngā kaiārahi o te kura ki ngā wawata o ngā whānau, ngā hapū, me ngā iwi. He nui te ahu whakamua ki te whakatutuki i ngā whāinga rautaki, tae atu ki ērā o te rautaki mātauranga a Ngāti Hauā. Ka ū rātou ki te whakarauoratanga o te reo o Ngāti Hauā, mā te mātauranga Māori, mā te maramataka, mā ngā tikanga, me te whakapono. Hui ai ngā kaitiaki i ia te wā, ā, ka noho mōhio rātou i roto i ā rātou mahi whakataunga. Ka poipoi ngā kōkiritanga ā-hapori i te whanaungatanga me te waiora, ā, ka hāpai ngā wānanga mō Matariki i te whakapuakitanga a ngā whānau i ngā wawata ka whai ake. Ka kawe ngātahi i te ārahitanga, ā, he aronga tēnei e whakatairanga ana i te tauatanga, e hāpai ana hoki i te tupu tonu o ngā kaiako katoa. Kua whakatinanahia e ngā kaiārahi me ngā kaiako o te kura i ngā tino rautaki whai hua kia whai wāhi nui ai ngā uri ki ngā wheako ako. Nā tēnā, ka kitea ki ngā hōtuku mō te taetae ākonga ki te kura, ko te tae auau mai o te nuinga o ngā uri ki te kura. E tautokona ana ngā uri kia tupu rātou hei kaiārahi.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake

Kua tīmatahia te whakawhanaketanga o ētahi tūāhuatanga o te ārahitanga. E whakawhanakehia ana hoki te whārangi ipurangi o te kura. He tino whai wāhitanga tēnei ki te whakatōpū me te whakahāngai ake i ngā pūnaha e pā ana ki te whakahaeretanga o ngā pūkete me ngā tuhinga, kia māmā ake ai te whakapā atu ki ngā tuhinga matua. Ka whai painga ngā uri i te wā e whai hua ana te aronga whakamua o ngā mahere me ngā mahi.

Me whakapakari ake i te māramatanga ngātahi ki ngā whakaritenga e pā ana ki te hauora me te haumaru. Kua whakatakotohia te kaupapa here i whakahoungia ai mō te ārai tamariki, heoi, e āta whakaraupapa ana i te aronga pū hei whakatau i te whakatutukitanga o ngā kaimahi katoa i ngā whakangungu, ki tā te kaupapa here e meatia ana. He mea nui kia whai wāhi atu ngā kaimahi katoa ki ngā whakangungu e āta whakatau ai i te māramatanga pū ki ngā tūranga me ngā kawenga mahi e āta tiaki ai i ngā uri.

5 Te Whakatau a Te Poumarumaru ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga

I mua i te aromātai, i whakatutukihia e te poari kaitiaki me te tumuaki he Tauāki Kupu Tūturu a Te Poumarumaru 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 aromātai, 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

ngā rēhita a ngā kaiako

te tukanga whakatū kaimahi

te whakaunu, te aukati, te pana me te whakarerenga

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

te whakatutukitanga o ngā kaupapa here o te kura i ngā tikanga o te Children's Act 2014.

6 Te Taunakitanga

E taunaki ana Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga kia aro atu te kura ki ngā wāhanga i whakaraupapahia ai hei whakaritenga matua kia whāia, hei whakatairanga ake tonu i ngā putanga ki ngā tamariki.

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

27 Whiringa-ā-rangi , 2025

7 Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te Kura

Te tūwāhi Kei Waharoa

Te tau a te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga 2047

Te tūmomo kura He kura tuatahi

Te tokomaha o ngā ākonga o te kura 36

Ngā hononga ā-iwi Māori 36

Ngā āhuatanga motuhake Ngā Kura ā Iwi

Te wā i te kura te rōpū arotake Hōngongoi 2025

Te wā o tēnei pūrongo 27 Whiringa-ā-rangi 2025

Ngā pūrongo o mua a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga Arotake Mātauranga, Whiringa-ā-rangi 2022; Arotake Mātauranga, Here-turi-kōkā 2018

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. The ERO reports provide important information for whānau, hapū and iwi .

2 Context

Te Kura o Waharoa is located in Waharoa , near Raungaiti marae . The kura is over 90 years old and transitioned to affiliate with Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa in 2000. The kura whānau and uri whakapapa to the iwi of Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Te Oro, and Ngāti Rangi Tawhaki .

How well do uri show that they are spiritually, physically, emotionally and socially intelligent?

Uri actively embody the qualities of Manu Taiko , emerging as leaders for their whānau, hapū , and iwi .

4 Findings

The marau ā-kura nurtures pride and a strong sense of belonging for uri within their kura and community. It is centred on Waharoa and has been developed and guided by the vision “ Kuhuna te Waharoa kia whītikina te reo, te wairua me ngōna tikanga” . The attributes of tūpuna are naturally embraced by uri , who confidently uphold the aspirations of their whānau, hapū , and iwi . Uri lead karakia, mihimihi, mōteatea , and waiata in whakatau for manuhiri . The mātāpono and uara , developed by Manu Taiko (graduates), are embraced and foster positive and meaningful relationships. This includes a deliberate focus on strengthening community connections with Raungaiti Marae and local Kōhanga Reo . A notable achievement is that the kura has recently returned to the regional kapa haka competition for the first time in over a decade, providing an opportunity for uri to showcase their pride and skills. The learning environments are vibrant and purposeful, with spaces thoughtfully designed to promote engagement and emotional intelligence. Uri uphold tikanga in their kura and community with confidence.

Uri are engaged in a responsive learning programme. The marau reflects the aspirations of whānau , exploring kaupapa such as mana, whakapapa, and waiora . The learning programmes are dynamic, shaped by uri preferences and aligned with maramataka to support effective engagement. Almost all learning is delivered in the tribal dialect of Ngāti Hauā . Bible lessons are facilitated by a kaumātua , nurturing spiritual beliefs and honouring and upholding the vision of their tupuna Wiremu Tamihana Tarapīpipi Te Waharoa . Uri benefit from participating in experiences outside of the classroom as they complement, consolidate, and celebrate achievements within the kaupapa ako . A significant majority of uri achieve well in literacy and numeracy. There are programmes in place to accelerate and support uri who have additional needs. Specialist teachers and programmes contribute to the positive academic outcomes. Kaiako are reflective, implementing evaluative processes that inform ongoing improvements to the learning programme. Uri are empowered to grow intelligence within a culturally rich and supportive environment.

The poumarumaru and kura leaders are responsive to the aspirations of the whānau, hapū, and iwi . There has been significant progress made in achieving strategic goals, including those of the Ngāti Hauā education strategy. They have a commitment to the revitalisation of te reo o Ngāti Hauā through mātauranga Māori, maramataka, tikanga, and whakapono . Trustees meet regularly and are informed decision makers. Community initiatives foster whanaungatanga and wellbeing where Matariki wānanga allow whānau to share future aspirations. A distributive leadership approach promotes succession, enabling continued growth for all kaiako . Kura leaders and kaiako have implemented deliberate and effective strategies to engage uri in the learning experiences. As a result, uri attendance data reported shows that the majority of uri regularly attend school. Uri are supported to grow as leaders.

Key Next Steps

Aspects of leadership are in the early stages of development. The development of the kura website is underway. This presents a valuable opportunity to centralise and streamline file management and documentation systems to ensure key documentation is easily accessible. Uri benefit when future focused planning and action is effective.

The collective understanding of health and safety practice requires strengthening. While there is an updated Child Protection policy in place, it clearly outlines a commitment to ensure that all staff complete training in accordance with the policy. It is important that all kaimahi participate in training to ensure there is a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities to safeguard uri .

5 Te Poumarumaru Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the evaluation, the board of trustees and tumuaki completed the ERO Te Poumarumaru 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 at 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

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 recommend that the kura respond to the areas outlined in the key next steps to further enhance outcomes for children.

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

27 November 2025

7 Information about the Kura

Location Waharoa

Ministry of Education profile number 2047

Kura type Full Primary

Kura roll 36

Ethnic composition Māori 36

Special features Ngā Kura-ā-Iwi

Review team on site July 2025

Date of this report 27 November 2025

Most recent ERO reports Education Review, November 2022; Education Review, August 2018

Read this report on ero.govt.nz →