Whare Kura Morehu ō Ratana

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 61 — 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. October 2024

   46

   Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 3 February 2025

2. November 2015

   38

   Counted while ERO’s review team was at the school. Education Review Office, report of 2 February 2016

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 3 February 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 a Whare Kura Morehu ō Ratana ki Rātana Pā, ki te tonga o Whanganui. E whakarato ana te kura i te mātauranga reo rua ki ngā uri o ngā tau 1 ki te 8. He wawata ō ngā kaiārahi me ngā whānau o te kura kia rumakina ngā uri ki te reo Māori, ā, kia whai tonu ngā uri i te mātauranga ki te kura mō ngā tau 9 ki te 13. Hei te mutunga o te tau, ka rītaia tētahi Pou Ārahi i te tūranga tumuaki, ā, kua roa nei ia e whai wāhi mai ana ki te kura. Kua whakatakotohia tētahi mahere tauatanga. Kua tūhono atu te kura ki Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa.

He pēhea rawa te whakaatu mai a ngā uri i tā rātou whai tukuihotanga me tā rātou whakaaweawe?

Ka tūmāia ngā uri ki te whakatinana me te whakamana i ngā tikanga o te Mōrehutanga.

4 Ngā Whakaaturanga

E tino tautokona ana ngā uri kia tupu rātou hei rangatira o Ngāti Mōrehu. Ka whai wāhi ki te mahere karioi ā-tau, ko te aronga ki te whakawhanake i te māramatanga ki ngā kaupapa e noho whakahirahira ana ki te Mōrehutanga. Ka whakatutuki ngā uri i ngā tūranga ārahi mā te whakahaere i ngā whakamoemiti i ngā ata mō te kura katoa. Ka waiatatia e ngā uri me ngā pouako ngā waiata ātaahua e whakatairanga ana i te aroha, te hari, te koa, me te rangimārie. Ka tautoko ngā pouako, ā, he tino tauira rātou ka whakapoutama, ka akiaki, ka atawhai tūturu nei hoki i ngā uri.

E whakatō ana ngā pouako i ngā mahere, ā, e whakapuaki ana hoki i ngā tūāhuatanga e whakatairanga ana i te ngākau titikaha o ngā uri, i tā rātou whai wāhi atu ki ngā akoranga, me tā rātou angitu ā-ahurea. E haere tonu ana te whakawhanaketanga o ngā pouako i te riterite i roto i te whakaako me te ako o ngā pūkenga whakapū e pā ana ki Te Reo Matatini me te Pāngarau. Ka tohu ngā hōtuku mō te mutunga o te tau 2023, i te iti ake o te haurua o ngā uri i whakatutuki i ngā tūmanako ā-marau mō Te Reo Matatini. Mō te whānui tonu, i pai ake ngā whakatutukitanga i roto i te Pāngarau. Hei hāpai i te ahu whakamua ake a ngā uri, kei te tūhura ngā pouako i ngā taputapu aromatawai e whai hua ai ki te whakamōhio i ngā whakaritenga whakaako, whakaritenga ako hoki ka whai atu. He pai te tautoko a ngā pouako i ngā uri e mau ana i ngā matea ake, ā, he māngai tautoko ngā kaimahi mō ō rātou matea. He kaha te aronga toi whenuatanga o ngā uri, ā, he ngākau titikaha ō rātou i roto i te reo Māori me ngā tikanga Māori o tō rātou iwi Mōrehu.

Ka mahi ngātahi ngā kaiārahi ki te whakatairanga i ngā tino painga mō ngā uri. Ka arotahi te mahere rautaki me te mahere ā-tau ki te whakapuaki i ngā tūāhuatanga e poipoi ai i te whakawhanaketanga torowhānui o ngā uri. Whakatairangatia ai te kura ki He Tūāpae; ki te Māramatanga; ki te Mōrehutanga me te Whakamoemiti, ā, ka whakanui, ka whakapuaki hoki ngā uri i ngā whakaakoranga a Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana, hei tūāhuatanga matua o ō rātou wheako o ia rā. Ko ngā uaratanga o te whakapono, te tūmanako, te rangimārie, te aroha, me te manaakitanga, e whakapuaki katoatia ana ki ngā hononga whakaute, ngā hononga tauutuutu hoki e whiwhi ana ngā uri. Ka whai hua te pānga o te rautaki reo ki te whakarauoratanga o te reo Māori, hei painga mō ngā uri me ō rātou whānau. E whanake ana ngā uri i te tino aronga toi whenuatanga, ā, e poipoia ana e te ahurea o te katoa ki te manaaki me te whakaute.

Ko te whakatairanga ake i ngā putanga ki ngā uri e noho pūmau ana ki ngā tukanga mō te whakapakari ake i ngā pūkenga takitahi me ngā āheinga o te katoa hei pouako. Ko te tautoko i te tupu ngaio me ngā whakaritenga o te Pou Ārahi me ngā pouako, he mahi whakakoia, he mahi whanake, ā, ka tino tautoko. Ko te whakaako mā te pakirehua tētahi tūāhuatanga e whai wāhi ake ana ki te whakatairanga ake i ngā putanga ki ngā uri. Ka tino whakamanahia ngā kaimahi, ā, ka whai hua tā rātou whakatutuki i ō rātou tūranga mahi, ka whakatairanga i te waiora o ngā uri me tā rātou ahu whakamua, inarā, i ētahi o ngā ākonga e mau ana i ngā matea ako ake.

E whai hua ana ngā uri nā te ū o Te Poumarumaru ki te ārahi i te kura. Ka tautāwhi ngā poumarumaru i tā rātou takohanga, ā, ka whakatutuki i ō rātou tūranga me ā rātou kawenga mahi. Ka toro atu rātou ki te tautoko o Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa me Te Whakarōpūtanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa i ngā wā e tika ana. Nā te mahi tahi me Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa kua kōkiri whakamua te whakawhanaketanga o tētahi marau ā-kura e tika ana, e whai pānga ana hoki ki te motuhaketanga o Ngāti Mōrehu. Kua whai wāhi matua a Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa ki te hāpai i te whakawhanaketanga ngaio o ngā poumarumaru me ngā kaimahi. Ka whai wāhi nui, ka tautoko nui hoki ngā whānau me te hapori o te hāhi i ngā uri me te kura.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake

Ko tētahi whakawhanaketanga kia whai ake, ko te whakaoti me te whakamana i te tuhinga hukihuki o te marau ā-kura ki te taha o te whānau. E rumakina ana ngā uri ki tētahi taiao me ngā wheako ako e whai pānga ana ki te hiahia ki tētahi marau e pou herea ai ki ngā uara o Ngāti Mōrehu. Me whakaōkawa, me āta whakatinana hoki te whānau o te kura i te marau ā-kura mā ngā uri, hei whakapūmau, hei whakatairanga tonu i te hauora, te waiora, me ngā putanga ā-mātauranga o ngā uri, me te houkura o te whānau.

Me whakapakari ake i te whakatinanatanga o ētahi o ngā kaupapa here o te kura. Nō nā noa nei ngā kaiārahi o te kura i kirimanatia ai te tautoko o waho hei ārahi i ā rātou whakahaeretanga o te kura, ā, hei whakatinana i te arotakenga me te whakapuakitanga o ngā kaupapa here me ngā tukanga o te kura kia whai hua ai. Engari, me whai māramatanga tonu ki ētahi o ngā kaupapa here me ngā whakaritenga e whakatairanga ake ai i te waiora me te haumaru ā-whatumanawa, ā-tinana hoki o ngā uri. Hei aronga matua, me whai māramatanga Te Poumarumaru me ngā kaimahi ki te kaupapa here e pā ana ki te ārai tamariki, ā, me toro atu hoki ki ngā whakangungu e pā ana ki taua tūāhuatanga, ki te whakaititanga ake hoki o te whakatina ākonga.

Me whakapakari i ngā whakaritenga e pā ana ki te whakahaeretanga o ngā pūmanawa tangata. Me arotake Te Poumarumaru me ngā kaiārahi i ā rātou kaupapa here me ā rātou whakaritenga e pā ana ki te tuku mahi, inarā, ki ērā e pā ana ki te whakatū kaimahi. Ko ngā kawenga i tohaina ai mō te whiriwhiri me te whakatū kaimahi tētahi tūāhuatanga hei ārahi ake, kia āta whakatutuki katoatia ā rātou takohanga. Waihoki, me pai ake te whakaemi i ngā tuhinga kaimahi, ā, me pūmau ake te pupuri tika o ngā mōhiohio tūmataiti.

Me titiro ngaio ake ki te whakahaeretanga o ngā pūtea me ngā utu i te kura. I ngā tau tata, kāhore i whakarite, kāhore rānei i tātari ngā pūrongo kaute ā-tau o te kura, kāhore rānei i tuku ki te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga, i whakawātea rānei ki te hapori o te kura, ahakoa he tikanga tēnā kia whāia. I te wā o tēnei aromātai, nō nā tata tonu nei noa ngā pūrongo kaute o te tau 2022 me te tau 2023 i whakarato atu ai ki ngā kaitātari. Me āta whakatau Te Poumarumaru i tā rātou whakatutukitanga i ngā kawenga mahi pūtea, i roto hoki i te wā e tika ana.

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.

Hei whakatutuki i ngā herenga ā-ture, me tahuri rātou ki te:

whai whakaaro matua ki te arotake i ngā kaupapa here, ngā tukanga, me ngā whakaritenga o te kura e pā ana ki te whakahaeretanga o te whanonga uaua me te whakatina ākonga, ā, me āta whakatau hoki i te noho mōhio o ngā mātua, ngā ākonga, ngā kaimahi o te kura, me te hapori ki aua tūāhuatanga [s99 Te Ture Mātauranga me te Whakangungu 2020, Ngā Ture Mātauranga (Whakatina Ākonga) 2023]

whakatinana i ngā whakaritenga e tika ana mō te whakahaeretanga o ngā pūmanawa tāngata, tae atu ki: (a) te whakatutukitanga o te arowhai a ngā pirihimana i ngā kaimahi i mua i te tīmatanga o te tangata ki te mahi ki te kura; me (b) te whai whakaaro ki ngā mōhiohio i te arowhai a ngā pirihimana, hei āta tātari ina āe rānei, kāhore rānei he tangata ka whakamōrearea pea i te haumaru o ngā tamariki ina mahi ia ki te kura [Education and Training Amendment Act 2023, Children’s Act 2014]

whakatau i te āheinga o te poari ki te whakahaere me te whakatutuki i āna mahi me āna whakahaeretanga mā te whai kawenga ki te taha pūtea, ā, me āta whakatau kia whakaritea, kia tātarihia hoki ngā pūrongo kaute ā-tau. [ s 127(2)(c) Public Finance Act 1989; s152 Te Ture Mātauranga me te Whakangungu 2020]

6. Te Taunakitanga

E taunaki ana Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga kia toro atu Te Poumarumaru me ngā pouako ki te tautoko o Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa, ki te whakatutuki i ngā herenga ā-ture i tautuhia ai, ki te kōkiri whakamua hoki i ngā whakaritenga matua i pūrongohia ai.

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

3 Huitanguru 2025

7 Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kura

Te tūwāhi Kei Rātana Pā, ki Whanganui

Te tau a te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga 2436

Te tūmomo kura He kura tuatahi

Te tokomaha o ngā ākonga o te kura 46

Ngā hononga ā-iwi Māori

Ngā āhuatanga motuhake Ngā Kura ā-Iwi

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

Te wā o tēnei pūrongo 3 Huitanguru 2025

Ngā pūrongo o mua a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga Arotake Mātauranga, Hōngongoi 2021; Arotake Mātauranga, Hui-tanguru 2016; Arotake Mātauranga, Hui-tanguru 2012

1 Introduction

The Education Review Office (ERO) in collaboration with whānau , leaders, pouako and their communities 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 Whare Kura Morehu ō Ratana is located at Rātana Pā south of Whanganui . The kura provides bilingual education for uri in Years 1-8. Kura leaders and whānau have aspirations for uri to be immersed in te reo Māori . And for uri to continue their education through Years 9-13 at the kura . A long serving Pou Arahi is retiring from the principal role at the end of the year and succession planning is in place. The kura affiliates to Ngā Kura ā-Iwi o Aotearoa (NKAI).

How well do uri demonstrate that they are culturally autonomous and influential?

Uri confidently practice and value the tikanga of their Morehutanga .

4 Findings

Uri are well supported to grow as leaders of Ngāti Morehu. Māhere karioi ā-tau includes a focus on developing understanding of kaupapa significant to Morehutanga . Uri fulfil leadership roles by facilitating whakamoemiti in the mornings for the whole kura . Beautiful waiata sung by uri and pouako promote aroha, hari, koa and rangimarie. Pouako are supportive role models who scaffold, encourage and show genuine care for their uri .

Pouako are embedding planning and creating conditions that promote uri confidence, their engagement in learning and their cultural success. Pouako continue to develop consistency in the teaching and learning of foundational skills in Te Reo Matatini and Pāngarau . The 2023 end of year data show less than half of uri achieved at curriculum expectations in Te Reo Matatini. Generally, they achieved better in Pāngarau . To support uri progress better, pouako are exploring assessment tools to effectively inform next steps for teaching and learning. Uri with additional needs are well supported by pouako and kaimahi who are supportive advocates for their needs. Uri have a strong sense of belonging and are confident in te reo and tikanga Māori of their iwi Morehu.

Leaders work collaboratively to promote positive outcomes for uri . Strategic and annual plans focus on creating conditions conducive to uri holistic development. He Tūāpae; Māramatanga, Mōrehutanga and Whakamoemiti permeate the kura and uri celebrate and experience the teachings of Tahu Pōtiki Wiremu Ratana as an integral part of their daily experience. Ngā uaratanga; whakapono, tūmanako, rangimarie, aroha and manaakitanga are expressed through the respectful, reciprocal relationships uri experience. Rautaki Reo, te reo Māori strategy, contributes positively to the revitalisation of te reo Māori for uri and their whānau. Uri develop a strong sense of belonging and are nurtured in a collective culture of care and respect.

Improving outcomes for uri is central to processes for building the individual capability and collective capacity of pouako . Support for the professional growth and practice of the Pou Arahi and pouako is affirming, formative and supportive. Increasingly, teaching as inquiry contributes to improved outcomes for uri . Kaimahi are highly valued members of staff who carry out their roles efficiently, enhancing the wellbeing and progress of uri , especially those with additional learning needs.

Uri benefit from poumarumaru commitment to their leadership of the kura. Poumarumaru embrace their responsibility to fulfil their roles and responsibilities. They seek support from NKAI and Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa as appropriate. Working with NKAI has resulted in progressing the development of a marau ā-kura appropriate to the uniqueness of Ngāti Morehu. NKAI has been instrumental in supporting the professional development of poumarumaru and kaimahi. Whānau and the haahi community are highly involved in and supportive of uri and the kura .

Key Next Steps

Finalising and endorsing the draft Marau ā-kura with whānau is a next step development. Uri are immersed in an environment and learning experiences that reflect the desire for a curriculum underpinned by values of Ngāti Morehu. The kura whānau should formalise and fully implement the Marau ā-Kura for uri to sustain and further enhance the health, wellbeing and academic outcomes of uri and the prosperity of the whānau .

The implementation of some kura policies require strengthening. Kura leaders have recently contracted external support to guide their operation of the kura , and to implement efficient review and enactment of kura policies and procedures. However, some policies and practices to promote uri emotional and physical wellbeing and safety require further understanding. As a priority poumarumaru and kaimahi should familiarise themselves with their Child Protection Policy and undertake training related to this and training to minimise physical restraint.

Human resource management practices require strengthening. The poumarumaru and leaders should review their policies and practices related to employment and in particular appointments. Delegated responsibilities to staff selection and appointment require guidance to undertake their obligations fully. Furthermore, personnel files need better collation and private information kept more securely.

Managing kura income and expenditure requires better scrutiny. In recent years, kura annual accounts have not been prepared, audited, provided to the Ministry of Education or made available to the kura community as required. At the time of this evaluation, both the 2022 and the 2023 accounts had only very recently been provided to the auditors. The poumarumaru need to ensure they meet their financial responsibilities in a timely manner.

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.

Actions for Compliance

To meet compliance requirements, they must:

give priority to reviewing policies, procedures and school practices for managing challenging behaviour and using physical restraint, and ensure parents, students, school staff and the community know about these [Section 99, Education and Training Act 2020, Education (Physical Restraint) Rules 2023]

ensure suitable human resource management practices are implemented, including: (a) obtaining a Police vet before a person starts work at the school and, (b) considering the information contained in the Police vet to assess whether the person would pose a risk to the safety of children if the person were to carry out work at the school [Education and Training Amendment Act 2023, Children’s Act 2014]

as a board, perform its functions and exercise its powers in a way that is financially responsible, and ensure that annual accounts are prepared and audited [Section 127(2)(c) Public Finance Act 1989; section 152 Education and Training Act 2020]

6 Recommendation

ERO recommend that the poumarumaru and pouako seek support from NKAI to address the non-compliances identified and progress the key next steps reported.

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

3 February 2025

7 Information about the kura

Location Rātana Pā, Whanganui

Ministry of Education profile number 2436

Kura type Full Primary

Kura roll 46

Ethnic composition Māori

Special features Ngā Kura-ā-Iwi

Review team on site October 2024

Date of this report 3 February 2025

Most recent ERO report(s) Education Review, July 2021; Education Review, February 2016; Education Review, February 2012.

Read this report on ero.govt.nz →