Tūāpapa

Te Ara Whānui Kura Kaupapa Māori o ngā Kōhanga Reo o Te Awa Kairangi was born out of frustration for the survival, maintenance, extension and retention of Te Reo Māori for the children who were nurtured in Te Kōhanga Reo in the Hutt Valley.

In 1995 after more than 11 years of the various styles of educational options available to graduates of Te Kohanga Reo at that time, a collective decision was made between the kaitiaki of Kokiri Marae and Waiwhetū Marae that the communities merge and consolidate their resources to develop the best possible option for all graduates of Te Kohanga Reo within the Hutt Valley.

Mr Richard Luke and Mrs Keriana Olsen from Waiwhetū Marae and Kokiri Marae respectively, in consultation and inclusion of all Te Kohanga Reo of the Hutt Valley (at that time numbering 22), then laid the foundations for the merging of the communities including ngā Marae me ngā Kohanga Reo to commit their support in the development of the Kura as we know it today.

Please see below our official Charter document 

Te Whāriki - adopted from Te Kōhanga Reo

Te Korowai - adopted from Te Kōhanga Reo

Te Aho Matua - adopted from Te Runanganui o ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa

Te Wheke - adopted from Dr Rangimarie Rose Pere

Te Whare  Tapa Whā - adopted from Dr Mason Durie

• 1994 - The vision to build a Kura was born

• 1995 - The establishment Poari was created

• 1996 - 20th January, the Kura was opened at the Petone site with a starting roll of 169 

• 1997 - Our first ERO review was conducted

• 1998 - 25th April, the new Kura was officially opened on our current site

• 2003 - ERO review was conducted

• 2004 - Election for a new Poari was held

• 2007 - ERO review was conducted

• 2008 - Kura was re-designated as a restricted Area School: Tau 1 - 10 effective as of Term 3

• 2009 - Te Wharehui o Keriana was paid off

• 2010 - Poari elections

• 2011 - New 5 year property plan come in to effect

• 2012 - ERO review was conducted

• 2013 - Entered the Regional Ngā Manu Kōrero for the first time. Entered the Regional Secondary Kapa Haka with Hutt Valley High & Taita College forming Ngā Wai Hononga. Success at National Ngā Manu Kōrero, 3rd place Tā Turi Kara (Junior English)

• 2014 - Success at Nationals Ngā Manu Kōrero, 3rd place Rāwhiti Ihaka (Junior Māori)

• 2015 - Kura started the transition back to Tau 13 by 2017. Ngā Wai Hononga performed for the second time with Taita College, Hutt Valley High and Heretaunga College. Success at National Ngā Manu Kōrero, winner of Rāwhiti Ihaka (Junior Māori). Application to NZQA to deliver and assess was approved

• 2016 - Kura participated in the first Ngā Kapa Haka Kura Tuatahi o Wairarapa ki Te Awa Kairangi.  New Poari was elected

• 2017 - Poari invoked support of a Commissioner for Governance. Stood alone at the Regional Secondary Kapa Haka and qualified for the National Secondary Kapa Haka competition for the following year

• 2018 - ERO review conducted. Success at Nationals Ngā Manu Kōrero, 3rd place Pei Te Hurinui (Senior Māori)

• 2019 - Maara Pūoro added to the Turakirae, NZQA review held in Term 3

• 2020 - Adopted Bikes in Schools. Covid-19. 

• 2021 - New relocatable buildings, driveway re-surfaced, bike track and pump track were opened, Alternative Constitution in progress.