Ngā Umanga Mātauranga

Education

Ko te mātauranga he taonga tuku iho, mā tātau katoa e kawe

“Knowledge is a sacred treasure, gifted to us by our tūpuna – a living legacy that we are entrusted to uphold, nurture, and carry forward for the generations to come.”

Greg Allen

Education Services Manager

Overview

Education is at the heart of Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue Iho Ake Trust. Guided by the knowledge and wisdom handed down from our Koromātua.

Our education services nurture identity, language, and culture at every stage of learning — from early childhood through to adult education.

We are committed to empowering all the participants in our kaupapa to become confident, connected learners who stand proudly in their whakapapa, contribute to their whānau and community, and carry forward the taonga of mātauranga Māori.

Our Kaupapa

We deliver a suite of education initiatives that reflect the aspirations of Ngāti Whakaue and the needs of our people today:

Ahurea Māori

Paepae Wānanga o Ngāti Whakaue

Our flagship wānanga dedicated to the revitalisation of te reo, oratory, and cultural leadership across marae and hapū.

Te Kura Reo o Ngāti Whakaue

An immersive reo Māori learning experience open to all who seek to deepen their fluency and understanding of te reo rangatira.

Te Reo Koeke & Te Reo Paepae

Language pathways tailored to support both kaumātua and emerging speakers to strengthen their reo within whānau, marae, and community settings.

Attendance Services – to begin 2026

Delivered across Rotorua and surrounding areas, our Attendance Services team works alongside schools, whānau, and communities to re-engage ākonga with learning.

Our approach is holistic — focusing not only on attendance, but also on the wellbeing, aspirations, and long-term success of every young person and their whānau.

Kōkiri Alternative Education

A learning programme for rangatahi aged 13–16 who benefit from hands-on, whānau-centred learning in a supportive environment. Kōkiri helps ākonga re-engage with education, develop practical skills, and build pathways to employment, training, or further study.

Te Puna Manawa o Whakaue

Our early childhood centre provides a nurturing and enriching bilingual environment for tamariki aged 0–5 years. Grounded in the teachings of Ngā Koromātua o Ngāti Whakaue, our philosophy centres on whanaungatanga, kotahitanga, manaakitanga, and ngā hononga. Learning is woven through Te Whāriki and Te Whatu Pōkeka, supported by tikanga, karakia, pūrākau, waiata, and whakapapa.

Our dedicated pouako work closely with whānau to support each child’s emotional, social, and cultural growth — helping them to thrive as confident learners secure in their identity.