Review 9 October 2025
LatestNgā Kitenga Arotake Report
1 He Kupu Arataki
Kua mahi ngātahi Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, ngā whānau, ngā kaiārahi, ngā kaimahi me ngā hapori ki te whakawhanake i ngā tirohanga aromātai e whai wāhi nui ai ki te hāpai i te kawenga takohanga me te whakapaitanga, ki te tautuhi i te ahu whakamua, ā, ki te whakapakari ake hoki i te āheinga ki te aromātai. E hāngai ana tēnei pūrongo ki ā rātou pūnaha, ki ā rātou whakaritenga, me ā rātou mahi whakahaere. Ka whakarato ngā pūrongo a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i ngā mōhiohio mātuatua mā ngā whānau, mā ngā hapū, me ngā iwi.
2 Te Horopaki
‘Tū ki te ao, tau ana’
He pā wānanga a Te Pā o Rākaihautū (Te Pā) e tū ana ki Ōtautahi. E whakarato ana Te Pā i te mātauranga reo rua mō ngā pononga (arā, mō ngā ākonga) o ngā tau 0 ki te 13. I te tau 2022 Te Pā i tūhono ai ki Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa, ā, kua whakaū ki te whakawhiti atu ki te mātauranga rumaki reo. Ko ngā kōkiritanga taketake mō te toitūtanga e ārahi ana i ngā wawata o Te Pā mō te kaitiakitanga taiao – ā-hapori, ā-motu, ā, o te ao whānui hoki.
E whakahaere tonuhia ana Te Pā i tētahi wāhi taupua, ā, kua tekau tau e pēnei ana. E tautoko tonu ana Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i te hiahia kia whakatū Te Pā ki tētahi wāhi tūturu, hei whakatutuki i ō rātou wawata me ō rātou tino pūmanawa, mā roto mai i tētahi wāhi e hāpai ai i te kōrero, ‘Tū ki te ao’.
3 Te Aronga o te Aromātai
He pēhea rawa te whakaatu mai a ngā pononga i tō rātou āheinga ki te whakatau whakaritenga me tā rātou whai wāhi nui ki te pāpori?
He ngākau titikaha ō ngā pononga ki te ārahi me te āta whai wāhi nui atu ki te tangongitanga o ngā horopaki, tae atu ki ērā e pā ana ki te hapū me te iwi, ki te hapori whānui, ki te motu, ā, ki ao whānui anō hoki.
4 Ngā Whakaaturanga
E rumakina ana ngā pononga ki tētahi marau e whakarauora ana, e whakapūmau ana hoki i tō rātou tuakiri hei uri o Rākaihautū. Ka whakaaweawe taua tīpuna i ngā tūāhuatanga, ngā iho pūmanawa, me ngā pūkenga matua e tika ana mō ngā pononga, kia para ai rātou i ō rātou ake huarahi ako whakaharahara ki Te Pā, ki tua atu hoki. Ka ako, ka whakatairanga rātou i ngā mōhiotanga, ngā whakapapa, ngā mātauranga, ngā pūrākau, me te taiao o Kāi Tahu, ā, ka whai wāhi atu ki ngā pōwhiri, ngā waiata, ngā karakia, me ngā pepeha. Ko ngā haerenga auau ki ngā wāhi whakahirahira, e whakapakari ana i te tuakiri o ngā pononga me ō rātou pūkenga ahurea, ā, ka whakariterite anō hoki i a rātou ki te hāpai i te hapori, me te tū hei kaiārahi ā tōna wā. E ārahi ana te rautaki reo o Te Hā o Rākaihautū i te whakatinanatanga o te reo Māori me te ahu whakamua kia noho rumaki reo.
Ko te whanaungatanga, te mahi tahi, me ngā tūmanako mārama e whakakotahi ana i te āhua o te ārahi i ngā whakaritenga ngaio ki Te Pā. Ka whakamahi ngā kaiārahi i te tangongitanga o ngā rautaki, tae atu ki ngā tūmanako nui, ngā akoranga ā-ariā, ā-kaupapa hoki, te whakapoutama, te whakahāngai i ngā whakaakoranga ki te ākonga ake, me te whakamihi me te whakanui i ngā whakatutukitanga, ā, ka whakarato i ngā whai wāhitanga ā-ringa nei mō ngā pononga ki te tū takitahi mā roto mai i tētahi taiao ako e poipoi ana i a rātou. Kei te riterite te mahi aromātai, ā, ka whai wāhi atu ki te whakarerekē haere i ngā wāhanga e tika ana. Kei te tino mōhio ngā kaiārahi ki ngā pononga, ā, ka whakarato i ngā whai wāhitanga ako e hāngai pū ana ki ia pononga, e whakakotahi ana hoki i a rātou katoa, kia eke angitu ai rātou. Ka noho matua te pakari o ngā hononga ki ngā whakatutukitanga i Te Pā, ā, e pou herea ana ki ngā uara o te tika, te pono, me te aroha. E whanake ana ngā pononga hei kawau mārō mō te pā, te hapori, me te iwi.
Ka whai hua ngā pononga o te wharekura ki te ārahi i ngā kōkiritanga i te pā, i tō rātou hapori, ā, ki tua atu hoki. Ko te āhua tonu o te atawhai me te ārahitanga ki Te Pā e hāpai ana i ngā pononga me ngā whānau ki te whakamahere me te aroturuki i tā rātou ahu whakamua me ā rātou whakatutukitanga i roto i ngā akoranga. I te tau 2024, i riro i Te Pā te taonga Zayed Sustainability i Abu Dhabi, mō tā rātou kaupapa hangarau taketake ā-taiao e kīia ana ko ‘Te Puku Māra’. E tautokona ana, e whakamōhiotia ana ngā huarahi ako me ngā wheako ako e ngā wheako me ngā tautōhito o te hapori, te motu, me te ao whānui.
He pai ngā whakatutukitanga o ngā pononga i roto i Te Taumata Mātauranga ā-Motu kua Taea, ā, kei runga ake i ngā toharite ā-motu o ngā taumata katoa o Te Taumata Mātauranga ā-Motu kua Taea. Ka taea te Tiwhikete Whare Wānanga te whakatutuki, ā, ka riro i te nuinga o ngā pononga o te tau 13. Ko te 44% te paetae o te Taumata 1, ko te 80% te paetae i te Taumata 2, ā, ko te 75% te paetae i te Taumata 3 me te Tiwhikete Whare Wānanga. E mōhio ana ngā kaihautū ki ngā wero e pā ana ki ngā paetae ākonga i roto i te pāngarau o Te Taumata Mātauranga ā-Motu kua Taea, ā, kua whakawhanakehia ngā pūnaha me ngā huarahi aroturuki hei whakatutuki i ngā tūāhuatanga i tautuhia ai i te tau o mua hei āta hāpai ake. He kaitiaki ngā pononga, ā, ka whakatinana rātou i ngā wawata o ō rātou kaumātua me ō rātou whānau.
Ka hāngai pū te aronga o ngā kaihautū ki ngā pononga, ā, ko ngā uara kei te tūāpapa o ā rātou mahi. E whakatairangatia ana, e tautokona ana hoki ngā tino pūkenga ārahi, puta noa i te hapori katoa o Te Pā. Ko te hōhonutanga o te māramatanga, te whakaū, me te ngākau nuitanga o ngā kaiārahi ki te kaupapa e āta whakatau ana i te whakatairanga nui o te taiao ako i te angitu o ngā pononga, i tō rātou waiora hoki. Ko ngā mōhiotanga me ngā uara e pou here ana i te tirohanga, te tauākī taketake me ngā wawata o Te Pā e tino māramahia ngātahitia ana e ngā kaihautū.
Kua tautuhia ngā tūranga o ngā kaihautū me ā rātou kawenga mahi, ā, ka āta whakapuaki i ngā pūkenga me te tautōhito o te katoa. Ka mahi ngātahi rātou ki te whakawhanake me te whakatinana i ngā whakaaro i tautuhia ai mā te whakaaro huritao me ngā whāinga rautaki. Ka mahi ngātahi ngā kaiārahi me ngā kaihautū kia whanake ai te māramatanga ki te whakatinana i te huatika hohourongo e kīia ana ko Hohou i te Rongo, me te kaupapa hoki o Whakarangatira, e whakamana ai i ngā pononga me ngā whānau. Kua whakaritea ngā kōkiritanga reo Māori hei hāpai i te whakatupu o ngā kaiārahi i tō rātou ngākau titikaha ki te kōrero me te whakaako i te reo Māori. Ko te whakatauira, ko ngā hononga o te tuākana me te tēina, ko te mahi ngātahi me te pakirehua, ka whakawhanake ā-ngaio nei i te ārahitanga. E whakatairanga ana te huringa taiāwhio ngaio i te whakaaro huritao, ā, ka aroturuki, ka whakawhanake hoki i ngā pūkenga o ngā kaiako. He whakawhirinakitanga ō ngā hononga, ā, ka tino whakamanahia ngā kaiārahi. He ngākau titikaha ō ngā pononga ki tō rātou tuakiri me tō rātou tūrangawaewae hei uri o Rākaihautū.
He whai wāhitanga mō ngā whānau ki te hāpai i ngā whakataunga mā te whakatakoto i ngā whāinga me te whakawhitiwhiti whakaaro. He māramatanga ngātahi, he pūmautanga ngātahi hoki ō rātou ki te tikanga whakaaro motuhake o te pā wānanga i pou herea ai ki ngā whakapono me ngā mōhiotanga o te Rākaihautūtanga. Ko Te Tautarinui o Matariki (Te Tautarinui) te ingoa o te poari, ā, he tokomaha o rātou i whai wāhi ai ki te kaupapa i tōna orokohanga. He nui te tautōhito, ngā pūkenga, me tā rātou aronga rautaki, ā, ka whakawhanake rātou i ngā tūāhuatanga e hāpai ai i te angitu me te hiringa o ngā pononga. Ko tētahi aronga o Te Tautarinui, ko te whakatupu i te reo Māori, kia hāngai ake ai ki te ū pūmau o Te Pā ki Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa. Kua whakawhanakehia te rautaki e kīia nei ko Te Hā o Rākaihautū, ā, he rautaki tēnei e pā ana ki te reo me ōna tikanga i roto i ngā tau e rima, me te aru, te whakatairanga hoki i te mātau ki te reo Māori. Ko te aronga nui ki ngā pūnaha, ngā tukanga, me te arotake whaiaro e hāpai ana i ngā whakataunga kia hāngai pū te aronga ki ngā pononga, ā, kia toitū hoki te whakapai tonutanga me ngā painga mō ngā pononga. Kei te haumaru, kei te whai oranga hoki ngā pononga – ā-tinana, ā-whatumanawa hoki, mā roto mai i tētahi wāhi e whakakotahi ana i te katoa.
Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake
Ko tētahi mea nui, ko te whakatau i tētahi wāhi tūturu mō Te Pā, me te hanga whare e hāngai pū ai ki te kaupapa motuhake o Te Pā o Rākaihautū. Kua tekau tau Te Pā e whakahaerehia ana ki tētahi wāhi taupua, ā, he tūāhuatanga tēnei e pā tōraro ana ki te hauora me te haumaru o ngā pononga, me te tino whakatinanatanga o ngā whāinga rautaki o te whānau. He nui rawa te wā me ngā rauemi e whakapaungia ana e Te Tautarinui ki te whakahaere i ngā take ka pupū ake i ia te wā nā te tawhito o ngā whare. Ka whai hua ngā pononga mā roto mai i tētahi wāhi e hāngai pū ana ki te tirohanga me ngā wawata o te whānau me te iwi.
Me whakapakari i ētahi tūāhuatanga o ngā mahi aromatawai. He mea nui kia whakatinanahia e ngā kaihautū ngā aratohu mārama e pā ana ki te aromatawai, te tuhi haere, te aroturuki, me te tātari i ngā paetae ā-kura, inarā, i ērā e pā ana ki ngā tau 1 ki te 10. Kua tautuhia te rumaki tōmuri me ngā kāinga reo Pākehā hei tūāhuatanga e pā tōraro ana ki ngā paetae a ngā pononga, heoi, kāhore he whakaaturanga e tātari ana i te āhua o te whai pānga o aua tūāhuatanga ki te whakatōmuri i te ahu whakamua a te pononga. Kua tautuhia e ngā kaihautū, e tika ana kia whakawhanakehia ngā rautaki me ngā mahere e whai hua ana ki te hāpai i ngā pononga o Uruao ki te whai wāhi atu ki ngā akoranga tautoko-rua. Me whakarite i tētahi aronga tōpū, aronga rautaki hoki e aro nui ai ki ngā matea o ngā pononga katoa, me te whakatutukitanga o ngā taumata a Te Pā mō ngā pononga katoa. Ka whai hua ngā pononga nā ngā akoranga e whakapūmau ana i te whakawhanaketanga o ō rātou mōhiotanga me ō rātou pūkenga, kia whai hua ai tā rātou ahu whakamua ki te whiwhi i ngā tohu mātauranga a Te Pā, ā, e whakariterite ana hoki i a rātou ki te para i ō rātou ake huarahi, i ngā huarahi hoki o ō rātou whānau.
5 Te Whakatau a Te Poumarumaru ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga
I mua i te aromātai, i whakatutukihia e te poari kaitiaki me te kairurungi he Tauāki Kupu Tūturu a Te Poumarumaru me tētahi Rārangi Arowhai Tātari Whaiaro. I roto i aua tuhinga i oati rātou i whāia e rātou ngā huarahi whai take hei whakatutuki i ā rātou herenga ā-ture e pā ana ki:
- ngā whakahaere a te poari
- te marautanga
- ngā whakahaere mō te hauora, te haumaru, me te oranga tinana
- ngā whakahaere o ngā kaimahi
- ngā whakahaere o te pūtea
- ngā whakahaere o ngā rawa.
I te wā o te aromātai, i whakamātauhia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ngā āhuatanga i raro iho nei, i te mea he nui te pānga o ēnei ki te haumaru me te waiora o ngā ākonga:
- te haumaru aronganui o ngā ākonga (tāpiri atu ki te ārai i ngā mahi whakawetiweti me ngā mahi whakaaito)
- te haumaru ā-tinana o ngā ākonga
- ngā rēhita a ngā kaiako
- te tukanga whakatū kaimahi
- te whakaunu, te aukati, te pana me te whakarerenga
- te tae ā-tinana atu a ngā ākonga ki te kura
- te whakatutukitanga o ngā kaupapa here o te kura i ngā tikanga o te Children's Act 2014.
6 Te Taunakitanga
E taunaki ana Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga kia mahi tahi tonu Te Tautarinui, ngā kaimahi, me ngā whānau ki te whakatutuki i ngā whakaritenga matua ka whai ake.
Tiwana Hibbs
Toka ā Nuku - Director
Te Uepū ā-Motu – Māori Review Services
9 Whiringa-ā-nuku, 2025
7 Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te Kura
Te tūwāhi Kei ŌtautahiTe tau a te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga 706Te tūmomo kuraNgā Kura-ā-IwiTe tokomaha o ngā ākonga o te kura211Ngā hononga ā-iwiMāori 100%Ngā āhuatanga motuhakeHe kura hiatoTe wā i te kura te rōpū arotakePoutū-te-rangi 2025Te wā o tēnei pūrongo 9 Whiringa-ā-nuku 2025Ngā pūrongo o mua a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga Arotake Mātauranga, Hōngongoi 2021; Arotake Mātauranga, Mahuru 20171 Introduction
The Education Review Office (ERO) in collaboration with whānau, kaihautū, kaimahi and their communities develop evaluation insights that foster accountability and improvement, identify progress and build evaluation capability. This report reflects their systems, operations and management practices. ERO’s reports provide important information for whānau, hapū and iwi.
2 Context
‘Tū ki te ao, tau ana’
Te Pā o Rākaihautū (Te Pā) is a pā wānanga in Ōtautahi. Te Pā provides dual language education for pononga (students) in Years 0–13. Te Pā joined Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa in 2022, committed to transitioning to total immersion. Indigenous sustainability initiatives continue to lead in the pā environmental kaitiakitanga aspirations, locally, nationally, and internationally.
The pā continues to operate from a temporary site after 10 years. Again, ERO supports the need for Te Pā to establish their permanent pā site to realise their aspirations and full potential at a place where they can ‘Tū ki te ao’.
3 Evaluation Focus
How well do pononga demonstrate they are decision makers who contribute to society?
Pononga confidently lead and contribute meaningfully to a range of contexts including hapū and iwi, the wider community, nationally, and internationally.
4 Findings
Pononga are immersed in a marau that revitalises and reinforces who they are as uri of Rākaihautū. This tīpuna inspires characteristics, intelligences and essential skills pononga need to sculpt their own aspirational learning pathway at Te Pā and beyond. They learn and promote Kai Tahu knowledge, whakapapa, mātauranga, pūrākau, and te taiao, while actively participating in pōwhiri, waiata, karakia and pepeha. Haerenga to significant places regularly strengthens pononga identity and their cultural capability, preparing them to contribute to the hapori and be future leaders. Te Hā o Rākaihautū reo strategy guides the implementation of te reo Māori to the aspirational realisation of total immersion.
Whanaungatanga, collaboration, and clear expectations unify the leadership approach to professional practice at Te Pā. Kaiārahi use a variety of strategies including high expectations, thematic and project-based learning, scaffolding, differentiation, praise, and celebration of successes and provide quality hands-on opportunities for pononga to be independent in a nurturing learning environment. Evaluation is consistent and leads to change where needed. Kaiārahi know pononga well and provide individualised and inclusive learning opportunities for them to be successful. Strong relationships are key to achievement at Te Pā, which is underpinned by the pā values of tika, pono, and aroha. Pononga are developing as champions for the pā, hapori, and iwi.
Pononga in wharekura lead initiatives within their pā, their community, and beyond successfully. The pastoral care and guidance systems of the pā help pononga and whānau to plan and monitor their learning progress and achievement. In 2024, their Indigenous Biocultural Technology project ‘Te Puku Mara’ saw Te Pā receive the Zayed Sustainability prize in Ah Bhu Dahbi. Learning pathways and experiences are supported and informed by local, national, and international experiences and expertise.
Pononga are achieving well in NCEA, achieving above national averages across all levels of NCEA. University entrance is an achievable goal with most Year 13 pononga attaining. Level 1 NCEA achievement was 44%, Level 2 achievement was 80% and Level 3 achieving at 75%, which also transfers into University Entrance qualifications. Kaihautū are aware of challenges for student achievement in NCEA numeracy and have developed systems and monitoring to address the identified weaknesses from the previous year. Pononga are kaitiaki and exemplify the aspirations of their kaumātua and whānau.
Kaihautū are pononga centred and values based. Strong leadership capability is promoted and supported for the whole pā community. The deep understanding, commitment, and passion of leadership to the kaupapa ensures that the learning environment is conducive to pononga success and their wellbeing. Knowledge and values that underpin the vision, mission, and aspirations of the pā and are intrinsically and collectively understood well by kaihautū.
Kaihautū roles and responsibilities are defined and recognised utilising the skills and experiences of everyone. They work collaboratively to develop and implement ideas identified through reflection and strategic goals. Kaiārahi work alongside kaihautū to develop understanding in implementing Hohou i te Rongo-restorative practice and Whakarangatira-empowering pononga and whānau. Te reo Māori initiatives are in place to support kaiārahi to grow their confidence in speaking and teaching te reo. Role modelling and tuākana-tēina relationships, collaboration, and inquiry professionally develops leadership. The professional growth cycle promotes reflective practise, monitors, and develops the capability of kaiako. Relationships are trusting, where kaiārahi are highly valued. Pononga are confident in who they are and where they are from as uri of Rākaihautū.
Whānau have opportunities to contribute to decision-making through goal setting and consultation. They share a collective understanding and commitment to the unique pā wānanga philosophy, which is underpinned by Rākaihautūtanga beliefs and knowledge. Many of the board - Te Tautarinui o Matariki (Te Tautarinui) are foundation members. They are experienced, skilled and strategic, developing the conditions that provide success and excellence for pononga. Growing te reo Māori to align with the commitment as a Ngā Kura ā Iwi o Aotearoa pā has been a focus of Te Tautarinui. Te Hā o Rākaihautū te reo me ōna tikanga strategy has been developed as a 5-year strategy to track and improve te reo proficiency. A strong focus on systems, processes, and self-review enables decision making that places pononga at the centre and sustains ongoing improvement and positive pononga outcomes. Pononga are physically and emotionally safe and healthy in an inclusive environment.
Key Next Steps
Securing a permanent site and build that reflects the unique kaupapa of Te Pā o Rākaihautū is required. The pā has operated out of a temporary site for 10 years that compromises the health and safety of pononga and hinders realising the strategic goals of whānau. Te Tautarinui utilise a disproportionate amount of time and resource managing the ongoing aged property related issues. Pononga benefit in an environment that fits the vision and aspirations of the whānau and iwi.
Aspects of assessment practises require strengthening. It is imperative that kaihautū implement clear guidelines for assessing, recording, monitoring, and analysing school wide achievement especially in Years 1-10. Late immersion and English medium home environments are identified as variables that impact negatively on pononga achievement; however, there is a lack of evidence that analyses how these contribute to pononga delayed progress. Kaihautū have identified the need to develop effective strategies and plans to support pononga in Uruao participating in co-requisites. A cohesive and strategic approach to respond to all pononga needs and prioritise meeting pā targets for all pononga is required. Pononga benefit from learning that affirms their knowledge and skill development to successfully progress towards recognised pā qualifications and well-prepares them to realise their own and their whānau life pathways.
5 Te Poumarumaru Assurance on Legal Requirements
Before the evaluation, the board of trustees and kaiurungi completed the ERO Te Poumarumaru Assurance Statement and Self-Audit Checklists. In these documents they attested that they had taken all reasonable steps to meet their legislative obligations related to:
- board administration
- curriculum
- management of health, safety and welfare
- personnel management
- financial management
- asset management.
During the evaluation, ERO checked at the following items because they have a potentially high impact on student safety and wellbeing:
- emotional safety of pononga (including prevention of bullying and sexual harassment)
- physical safety of pononga
- teacher registration
- processes for appointing staff
- stand-downs, suspensions, expulsions and exclusions
- attendance
- school policies in relation to meeting the requirements of the Children’s Act 2014.
6 Recommendation
ERO recommend Te Tautarinui, kaimahi, and whānau continue to work together to address key next steps.
Tiwana Hibbs
Toka ā Nuku - Director
Te Uepū ā-Motu – Māori Review Services
9 October 2025