A new Year 1-13 wharekura will extend Māori Medium Education into Porirua West from 2027, Associate Education Minister, Kelvin Davis, announced today.
“The establishment of Te Kākā Kura o Ngāti Toa Rangatira will over time provide a local option for up to 200 tamariki and rangatahi on the western side of the Porirua harbour,” Minister Davis said.
He said the new wharekura was another major step forward in the development of Aotearoa’s Māori Medium Education Network, given almost a third of ākonga in the Porirua region identify as Māori.
“It will help local ākonga succeed in an environment that uplifts and protects iwi values.”
“Tikanga and kawa will be embedded in the curriculum and teachings of Ngāti Toa kaumatua and kuia, underpinned by the Ngāti Toa Education Strategy and Māori Education Strategy, Ka Hikitia.”
The Government has a goal of strengthening Māori Medium Education and growing the number of learners by 30% by 2040.
To do that, investment is being made in areas such as teacher training and the current infrastructure, but new classrooms will also be needed to meet demand, Mr Davis said.
The Porirua wharekura follows a previous announcement in September of a wharekura in Fielding.
The Minister said Porirua West was a growth area, with new housing development including Kenepuru Landing.
“I would like to acknowledge Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira for their dedication in seeking the establishment of this designated character school.”
“Once a suitable site has been found in the Titahi Bay area, an Establishment Board will be appointed,” he said.
The kura is expected to open by 2027, initially as a Year 1-8 kura with a roll of 45, growing to 200 as secondary levels are added over subsequent years.
