Te Wharekura o Ruatoki is a school in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, serving years 1 through 13. It was established in 1896[3][4][5] after a visit by Richard Seddon and James Carroll[6]
| Te Wharekura O Rūātoki | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
Mission Road, Ruatoki, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand | |
| Coordinates | 38°08′51″S 177°00′27″E / 38.1474°S 177.0076°E |
| Information | |
| Type | State, Co-educational, Composite (Year 1-13) |
| Motto | “Ko tā mātau kitenga anamata, Ko te Tiketike Tūhoetanga” |
| Established | June 1896 |
| Ministry of Education Institution no. | 221 |
| Principal | (Deputy principal: Wallace Pene)[citation needed] |
| School roll | 226[1] (August 2024) |
| Hours in school day | 6.5 hours |
| Colour(s) | Black, Maroon |
| Socio-economic decile | 2D[2] |
| Website | http://www.ruatoki.school.nz/ |
In 1978 it became New Zealand’s first officially bilingual school.[7][8]
Students & the School
The students are currently 99% Tūhoe Māori. It serves its community and other townships close by, with children transported to school by bus, van or car from Kawerau, Whakatāne, Opotiki and Tāneatua.
For many years Te Wharekura o Ruatoki has had a numerous number of highly profiled people visit the school. Many such as Political Members of the House of Representatives, High Commissioners, Sport Exponents and other notable aluminise. The school and its people are very passionate about their tikanga and kawa of their Iwi (tribe) Ngāi Tūhoe. It is within a highly prioritized tikanga (protocol) and kawa of Ngāi Tūhoe be used for welcoming guests on to the school or in to their community. Hobbies of the school and its young educators are Kapa Haka, Manu Kōrero, Waka Ama, Sports Exchange and other national school activities.
The school assembles to their gymnasium every first and last day of the school week to have karakia (church). The school abides by the church of Te Haahi Ringatu, which is a common known church in New Zealand established by Te Kooti Arikirangi also known as (Te Matua Tangata). The school and its educators follow their motto “Ko tā mātau kitenga anamata, Ko te tiketike Tūhoetanga” to encourage and urge themselves strive for the highest and successful attributes education provides for all.
School Houses
There are four house groups in which all students and teachers are split into.
(House groups for the schools term 2 are still to be established)
History
Te Wharekura O Ruatoki school first established in June 1896 after a short visit by two New Zealand politicians to the Ruatoki community in 1895 by James Carroll and Richard Seddon.
A past Principal of the School, Mr. Oscar Holyoake who served during 1948 – 1953 was also a notable alumnus in the education sector as his brother Sir Keith Holyoake was Deputy Prime Minister at the time. However years before was a senior Government Minister. Close to a decade later, brother of Principal Holyoake, Sir Keith was appointed Prime Minister of New Zealand. Years later, Sir Keith was also appointed Governor General, a representative role to Her Majesty the Queen of England for New Zealand as well as been Prime Minister.
Previous Names
- Ruatoki Native School
- Ruatoki District School
- Ruatoki Bi-Lingual School
- Te Kura Kaupapa O Ruatoki
- Te Kura Maori a Rohe O Ruatoki
Notable alumni
References
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- ^ "RUATOKI CELEBRATES 70th JUBILEE", Te Ao Hou, 1966
- ^ "Ruatoki native school contract", Auckland Star, November 1895
- ^ "By 1904 it was the largest Maori School in the country with 93 children on the roll."
- ^ THE UTILISATION OF TE UREWERA: AN ISSUE OF SOVEREIGNTY, Waitangi Tribunal
- ^ "History of the Māori language", nzhistory.net.nz
- ^ "3.14 Bilingual Schools, Kohanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Maori", Waitangi Tribunal Publication 2001