Te Poutama Kahurangi was founded by Piripi and Tiwha Blake in the year 2000 to cater for the learning needs of students who came from schools that were total immersion reo Māori. It is a program that has assisted many students to move on to further study at a higher level; many are now contributing back to Māori and society in general. To Acknowledge Piripi and Tiwha it is important that this Kaupapa evolves but still maintains te reo Māori at its core. Te Poutama Kahurangi has now evolved into a Māori Arts Academy and will deliver a curriculum where its students will thrive in an environment that is Māori and where they will be excited to learn Māori. 

Te Poutama Kahurangi is the name of the tukutuku pattern which depicts the assent of Tāne to the uppermost heaven in the pursuit of knowledge. Kahurangi can be interpreted in two ways. Firstly, it is something that is precious and highly prized. This is certainly one of the aims of the program – to ensure Māori students place high value on their education. Secondly, Kahurangi is central in a proverb which encourages people to set ambitious standards and goals for themselves – “Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tuohu koe me he maunga teitei.”

Aims of Te Poutama Kahurangi (Bi-Lingual Unit) 

• Provide a quality Māori Arts program for students who have previously been members of a kapa haka team for two or more years at their previous school. This program would eventually extend beyond Year 9 to Year 13. 

• Promote Māori language, tikanga, culture and values of aroha, manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, tautoko, health and well-being and innovation. 

• Encourage student achievement at all levels and areas that can be offered at this time in conjunction with the New Zealand curriculum document and all related curriculum documents. 

• Enhance the students learning so that they become highly skilled in Māori Performing Arts, the Māori language and knowledgeable of Māori customs and traditions. 

• Provide, foster and nurture Māori perspective in learning areas. 

• Provide a holistic view of human development recognising that cultural, physical and emotional well-being are as essential as intellectual and creative development. 

• Recognise and acknowledge that health and well-being will play an integral role. 

• Recognise and implement a spiritual dimension which incorporates kaupapa Māori both in and around the school. 

Josephine Kenrick - HOD Te Poutama Kahurangi (Bi-Lingual Unit)

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