Ki aku rahi, ki aku nui

Tena koutou katoa.

He Uri ahau nō te waka ō Mataatua

Ka heke iho taku whakapapa mai i a Toroa, ki a Awanuiarangi, ki a Wineti Kanawa, ki a Meri Te Urikore Simpson.

I noho āku tipuna i nga marae ō Te Pāroa, Te Rangihouhiri, Puawairua me Te whare o Toroa.

He hononga whakapapa anō tāku ki nga Iwi o Te whanau a Apanui me Ngai Taranaki.

"Ko te Pāroa totara te Papa tipu"

Heoi ano, Ko Erin Te Pou ahau, te tumuaki o Te Kura o Te Pāroa.

As the Principal, I extend a warm welcome to all tamariki and whānau.

I am proud to be the first Ngati Awa Principal of a Te Kura o Te Pāroa, a Ngati Awa special character school that offers education to years 1 - 8, with a focus on Ngati Awa histories and traditions.

In 2021, Te Kura o Te Paroa is 128 years old. The first school - Ōtamaurū native school was opened on the 17th April, 1893.

The school culture recognises and values the unique position of Māori in New Zealand society.

Māori cultural values, karakia and tikanga are an integral part of Te Kura ō Te Pāroa.

All students participate in Performing arts. Haka is an area of strength for Te Kura o Te Pāroa.

Students are engaged in their learning and are achieving educational success, with a pride in their unique identity, language and culture as Māori.

Te Kura ō Te Pāroa is a Special Character Designated School under Section 156 of the Education Act 1989.

Te Kura ō Te Pāroa ensures all students, and particularly Ngāti Awa children are given the opportunity to be educated in the context of Ngāti Awatanga culture and heritage. The special character status ensures future successful participation of Ngāti Awa and all Māori students in their own community, the wider Māori community and in the world.

Te Kura ō Te Pāroa offers both mainstream and Te Reo Māori immersion education for all year groups.

Te Reo Māori education at Immersion Level 1 is offered in years 1 – 8.

Te Reo Māori education at Immersion levels 4 and 3 is also offered for years 1-8.

Teachers’ practice is responsive to students’ needs, including cultural needs.

Our School values its place in the community and welcome parents into our school, knowing that the relationship between school and home is important for promoting our students learning.

In collaboration with whanau, Te Kura o Te Pāroa has developed a value system that reflects the aspirations of our community.  We promote Mauri (values based) learning to encourage students to enact Nga tikanga ō Te Kura and to Tūrukihia to ratou ake taumata tiketike (strive for excellence)

                                                                                                                                        Nō reira,

He manu hou ahau

e pī kā rere

These words of the Ngāti Awa chief Te Mautaranui - bring hope for a bright future!

Tūmuaki 

Erin Te Pou.