Te Hītori o te Kura: The History of our Kura

Ngā Taiātea Wharekura was established because of the hard work and persistence of a core group of parents, whānau and kura in Hamilton and other communities nearby. These whānau fought hard for the establishment of our kura because they wanted a wharekura to cater to their primary aged children in kura kaupapa Māori and Maori Immersion Units once they graduated from primary school. Each year from 1996-2001 this collective of whānau and kura led by Henare Johns submitted their application to the Government to establish a kaupapa Māori secondary school in Hamilton. However each year, these submissions were declined (6 years in total). Due to the persistence of these whānau, the Government finally agreed to establish a kaupapa Māori immersion secondary school in Hamilton and Ngā Taiātea Wharekura was opened in 2004.

• Our kura was established to serve the students in the Waikato region who wanted kaupapa Māori secondary education.
• Our kura is a special character school with our special character being our Reo and Tikanga.
• Our kura is a Kura ā Iwi that supports the Kīngitanga and the aspirations, history, tikanga, values and aspirations of the iwi within the Tainui region.
• Ngā Taiātea Wharekura is privileged to be based in the Ngāti Māhanga region and appreciates the continued support from Ngāti Mahanga. We endeavor to support Ngāti Māhanga kaupapa whenever possible.

He kura-ā-iwi tō tātou kura. E noho ana tātou i raro i te haumarutanga o te Kīngitanga, o Ngāti Māhanga, waihoki o Tainui.