KŌ WAI MĀTOU ?

VISION

“To provide a quality education enabling our Tamariki to stand confidently in their world”

U MAIA - Values

Five Tapuika Taniwhā/Kaitiaki (Te Mapu, Pareawheawhe, Tamitami, Porohinaki and Taipo) represent Ngā ūmaia to develop the skills required for our tamariki to enable them to participate and add value to the affairs of whānau, hapū, iwi and the wider community and the global economy.

These Ūmaia include:

Tū Rangatira Ai (Pride) - Te ihi, te wehi, te wana. Taku Rangatiratanga.

Manaakitanga (Respect) - Manaaki tangata. Manuhiri mai, pākeke mai, kōeke mai, kuia mai.

Kaitiakitanga (Guardianship) - Tiaki te Kura, tiaki ngā taonga i whakarerea iho, tiaki te mana o to Iwi.

Whakapono (Honesty) - Ko te tika me te pono te hanga pai mo te tangata.

Whānaungatanga (Relationships) - Whānaungatanga, tētahi ki tētahi.

Te Matai 

Although its name has changed several times over the years since its beginning, the Kura will always be Te Matai to the numerous whanau who have come through its gates. Originally named Te Matai Native School, this small Kura has played a significant part in the education of Tapuika, neighbouring hapu and Iwi and not to mention a fair number of tauiwi as well.

Anecdotal stories maintain that the Kura was named after a large matai tree that stood in the vaccinity of the original kura site. This area was also known as Te Matai to Tapuika for the large number of matai (native black pine) which grew there. The first Te Matai Kura was located at Te Paamu not far from where St Paul’s Church stands today.

The land where it stands today was originally owned by Hanatia Te Uru and her two daughter in laws Rangitatao Te Kokiri and Ngahoro Taraiti. The land Moko Marae stands on was also owned by these kuia. Many of their descendants were past pupils, board and staff members. Hanatia Te Uru and Ngahoro Taraiti have always had at least one of their descendents attending the kura since it opened almost 140 years ago. The current tumuaki is a direct mokopuna to Hanatia and Ngahoro. 

The first School Master was Mr John F. CAPPER and Mrs CAPPER was listed as the sewing mistress. Te Matai had a total expenditure in its first year of operation of £763.4.2. It is unknown how much of this was provided by Tapuika and how much was being subsidise by the Government. Of the original 61 students in year one, 44 were eligible to sit the Four Tiered National Standards Examinations. Of these 44, 14 passed Level One and three passed Level Two with no one passing levels three or four. In light of the fact that Te Matai was a first year kura and that Mr CAPPER was ranked as a Level Three teacher, the results were indeed encouraging from the perspective of how quickly Tapuika were grasping pakeha concepts.

During 1939 the School Committee organised working bees to clear the new site and to provide fencing. Meanwhile tenders were called for the construction of a three roomed school building and teacher’s residence. Work proper on the new School site at Otupango got underway in late 1939 and the new school was completed in June of 1940. In addition to the school building and teacher’s residence, the model cottage and crafts building were shifted from the old site. The students were then transitioned down to the new site and it was first inspected by the Minister of Education himself in April 1941 who was appalled at the dark grey paint used on the interior and personally selected a lighter colour scheme, and insisted that the rooms be repainted in the new shades before his next visit.

In 1947 approval was given for a water-bore to be drilled as the existing water, drawn from the adjacent Kaituna River had been condemned by the Health Department. This bore was completed in January 1949. Te Matai got it first Maori Assistant Master called Mr William TE WHITI who started in 1948. Unable to find accommodation nearby, he was granted permission to renovated the school cottage and live there.

Te Matai’s current War Memorial Gateway was wrought in iron with the numbers 1914 and 1918 set into them. Mounted on a concrete arch are the two rolls of honour and Māori carvings of the two twins of Atuamatua stand above each roll. Set at the entrance to the Te Matai Native School at Waitangi, this gateway was unveiled in 1948 before a crowd of over 1,200 people.

1949 saw the leveling and grassing of the playing fields. Most of the clearing and grassing work was carried out at the instigation of the school committee – many of whom were former pupils of the school. Late in 1949 Mrs CHAPPLE was appointed Infant Mistress at Rotorua Primary School, to be joined in March 1950 by Mr CHAPPLE who had also been appointed to Rotorua. Mr CHAPPLE had been in the Native School Service for 22 years – all of them at Te Matai Maori School. Mr CHAPPLE’s position at Te Matai was filled temporarily by Mr J. BIRKBY until Mr A.D. HUMPHREY became permanent Head-teacher in September 1950. Mr HUMPHREY had been teaching at Waima Maori School. A letter from Mr HUMPHREY shows the member of staff to be:

1. Mr A. D. HUMPHREY – Head-teacher;

2. Mrs M. J. HUMPHREY – Infant Mistress;

3. Mr W. TE WHITI – Assistant;

4. Miss M. HIHA – Assistant; and

5. Mr W. GRAY – Assistant.

In June 1951, part of the old building, which had been converted into a classroom was damaged when the stove set fire to some of the woodwork. Mr HUMPHREY left Te Matai in August 1951 to take up a position at Normal Primary School in Auckland. His replacement was Mr R. H. RICHARDSON. Mr RICHARDSON wrote to the Department several times expressing the wish of his school committee that the work on the new classroom (originally proposed by Mr CHAPPLE in 1944) and a Dental Clinic be put in hand. One of these letters, dated 10 March 1952, lists the members of the committee as:

1. Mr Mohi KINGI – Chairman;

2. Mr J. MARSH;

3. Mr Haimona PUATA;

4. Mr Tamati WHAREHUIA; and

5. Mr Timoti NAERA.

In May 1952 a piano was bought for the school – half the cost of which had been raised by Te Matai Home and School Committee. In September 1952, Mr J, MARSH, on behalf of the School Committee, wrote to Maori Affairs requesting the provision of a dental clinic, tennis courts and a swimming pool. These amenities were considered worthwhile for school the size of a 148 pupils. A tender for the building of the new classroom had been accepted in August 1952, work was begun early in 1953, and the classroom was put into use by September 1953.

The old school building, erected in 1887, had been remodeled in 1940 for Arts and Crafts. By 1956 this building had become uneconomic and its demolition and replacement was proposed. However, as the roll was now 166, and as increases were expected, a decision was held over.

During 1957 Mr RICHARDSON resigned from his position, the acting head-teacher being Mr Frank LATIMER, who had been teaching at Te Matai for some years. The new head-teacher was Mr O. T. EVANS from Omaio Maori School. Mr EVANS informed the Department on 10 February 1958, that the school had been broken into, and minor damage to furniture noted. In October 1958, tenders were called for the erection of a classroom-administration block, and a dental clinic. A tender was accepted in December. Work was begun in January 1959 and completed the same year. On 24 March 1959, the Minister of Education visited Te Matai Maori School. The old school buildings, now in disuse owing to the occupation of the new block, was gifted to the Vestry of the Te Puke – Tauranga Mission District in recognition of the donation of the original Te Matai School site by the local Tapuika people.

Puhaorangi (m)

Ohomairangi (m)

Te Ruamuturangi (m)

Taungarangi (m)

Atuamatua (m)

Tia (m)

Tapuika (m)

In July 1960 Mr EVANS advised the Department that the school committee had raised £450 for the purpose of building a swimming pool. The swimming pool was subsidized on a pound for pound basis by the Department, and were completed in November 1962. Mr EVANS left his position as head-teacher at the end of 1965, his replacement in the new year being Mr F. S. KNEALE. Mr KNEALE, however, remained only to the end of 1966, when he and his wife left to take up an appointment in Western Samoa. Mr W. W. GILLIES was appointed the new head-teacher from the beginning of 1967, and was still head-teacher when Te Matai Maori School was placed under the control of the South Auckland Education Board on 2 February 1969, and was renamed Te Matai School. Te Matai School celebrated its 82 Anniversary on 25 to 26 October 1969 as a way of bringing old school mates back together again and reconnect with the school and one another.

The 1970s was a period of consolidation for Te Matai School with peaks and troughs in the roll. Mr David CLAYTON was appointed Principal of Te Matai. Mr CLAYTON’s two sons Matthew and Kane and his daughter Patricia also attended Te Matai as he guided the school into the early 1980s and beyond before he relinquished the reins to Mrs Jenny McNICOL. Mrs McNICOL was ably assisted by Miss Nancy WIHAPI and Mrs Janet FOX in the teaching department. Mrs McNICOL was a fan of taking the school population on camp and Te Matai made several trips to the Urewera during the mid 1980s to incorporate bush learning into the Te Matai curriculum. Te Matai celebrated its 100 year centenary on 17 to 19 April 1987. The oldest living pupil was Mrs Te Ono AHOMIRO and the youngest was Master Heketua ROBERTS.

The next ten years held mixed fortunes for Te Matai had several Principals over this time including Mr Ted TANGIORA, Mr Noki MARTIN and Tapuika’s own Reverend Rereamanu WIHAPI. In 1996 Te Matai became a Kura Kaupapa when it came under the mantle of Te Runanganui o Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori o Aotearoa. This change was thrust upon Te Matai and its whanau as Te Matai was one of twenty default Kura who were changed from mainstream schools into Kura Kaupapa. Although this kaupapa started strongly, its momentum started to falter. The change of status was the start of a significant downturn in fortunes for the Kura and over the next 12 years, Te Matai was to go from a Kura of nearly 100 pupils down to just 9 in 2009. If Te Matai had reached 7 pupils, its doors would have been permanently shut by the Ministry of Education.

If Te Matai could prove that its roll was growing and its tamariki were achieving academically, there would be no further need for external interventions and over zealous monitoring. The Board highlighted the 2011 ERO report as one that could be significantly influenced if all issues from previous ERO reports were addressed. The Kura’s roll was in the low twenties at this time and several whanau made themselves available to talk to ERO about the developments Te Matai had implemented. Whatever was said by those whanau and whatever was done in the classroom worked as Te Matai received its first positive ERO report in over ten years in 2011. There were still areas for improvement back ultimately the Kura had turned a corner. Following this resounding result, the decision was made to reduce the Statutory Commissioner’s role to Limited Statutory Manager with a view of disestablishing the roll in six months.

NGA TAMA TOA O TUMATAUENGA

This section is dedicated to our brave warriors who travelled far from our home fires in order to preserve the privileges we enjoy today. While they left their loved ones and familiar shores behind to travel towards an uncertain future we cannot fathom the depths of the emotional turmoil that must have been raging within these brave souls. As well as the anguish that must have been felt by the strong women, our grandmothers, mothers, sisters and daughters who were left at home to keep the ahi kaa. Nor the despair of the unsuccessful candidate who was belatedly discharged for lying about his age or prohibited from fighting through some frailty of body but not of spirit. This section is dedicated to them, to honour them, to cherish them, so that their bravery and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

World War One

Sgt. Thompson William Nicholls M.M.

Sgt. Aritaku Wihapi

Sgt. Hori Urukehu Karaka

Albert Gray

Arapeta Ahomiro

Aronia Ahomiro

Ateremu Hiini

Awatapu Ngaki

Don Arama Karaka Wihapi

E. Rissetto

H. Hohepa

Hamiora Te Hui

Huni Marsh

Kotua Matia

Kouru Ereatara

Manu Paora

Matehaere Te Moni

Moihi Karaka

Ngahana Hetekia

Ngamaunu Karaka

Nikorima Pakana

Obidiah Nicholls

P. Karaka

Patana Wihapi

Rangi Winiata

Rangikaiamokura Puata

Ratapu Te Moni

Ropiha Pari

Sam Tumu

T. Himiona

Tame Tamihana

Tapua Te Amo

Tata Paddie Gray

Te Ooterangi Whataati

Watene Wihapi

Wi Maruki Te Moni

World War Two

Flight Sgt. Poraumati O’Callaghan

L.A.C. A. Rissetto

Lt. Aubrey Rota

Sgt. John Te Wharetoa Graham

Crpl. Kiri Potene

Crpl. Naera Tamihana

Crpl. Sonny Ahomiro

L. Crpl. George Hori Kerei Taupe

Atahere Te Aute

B. Poroa

Rakau C. Minarapa

Francis Patrick Conroy

George Kingi

Hoane Karaka

Hona Ahomiro

John Richmond

M. Waipoua

Manahi Hiini

Matau Wi Paora

Mikaere Minarapa

Peter James

Peter Tohiariki

Rakawhati Thocolich

Rehuata George Taiatini

Rini Te Amo

Sam Karaka

Stephen Tamihana

T. William

Tauhu Kingi Ransfield

Te Rata Te Moni

Tokau Te Koata Perenara Kihirini

Toko Naera

Tutea Marsh

Tutewehiwehi Kingi

Whakakaua Tamihana

William Ngahana Ahomiro

William James Conroy

Te Matai salutes these brave men as well as all those who served in the armed forces of New Zealand in subsequent conflicts. We lament those of our brave sons who went away to distant lands never to return. Forever sleeping in the embrace of strange earth. We remember their loved ones here at home who waited, some will wait forever. We take pride in their battle prowess for was it not our brave men who paid the price for our citizenship with their blood. We can stand proud due to the fact that when the call against tyranny was made, our small Kura and its surrounding settlements did their part and stood up for a greater good.

Tapuika 

The takapu represents the traditional rohe (tribal estate) of Tapuika which extends from the Wairakei stream as it enters the sea at Papamoa, south-east to the Waihi estuary and up the Kaikokopu or Pokopoko stream heading inland to Te Hiapo, west to the Haruru or Pueto stream and then on to Otanewainuku and then to Opoutihi before turning north-west to Te Rae-o-Papamoa. From here the boundary extends to Otawa maunga and then heads out towards Papamoa and back to the point of origin at Wairakei.

From the time of the arrival of the Te Arawa waka down to the present day, the uri of Tapuika have occupied and maintained mana whenua over this area referred to as ‘Te Takapu o Tapuika’. This is their birthright.

It is with this absolute knowledge that the Tauira of Te Matai: Te Kura a Iwi o Tapuika will be embraced in as they grow and learn in their Kura. In much the same way as the ‘Takapu’ represents the tribal estate of Tapuika, the Kura itself with its vast playground areas represents the Educational estate where Tauira can be nurtured and taught, safe in the knowledge, that where they stand and learn is theirs as of right.

Te Matai: Te Kura a Iwi o Tapuika is their rohe where they can play and grow into strong and confident citizens grounded in Tapuika values.

He kākano whakaaro

Ka tupu he rākau kōrerorero

Ngā hua ko ngā pūkenga

o Te Matai puna mātauranga

Tihei Mauri Ora

From a seed of thought 

springs a tree of rich conversation.

The fruit of the tree is the skills and expertise of

our learning journey at Te Matai.

This whakatauki was given to the kura by Koeke o Tapuika Te Tapua Te Amo 

Our logo was designed by one of our kuia Manukura Roberts.  She incorporated our kaitiaki and umaia into our logo along with the Matai tree and our awa - Kaituna. The poutama patterns represent the progressions that our tamariki go through throughout their journey in life.