We are tasked with supporting and advancing the educational, economic, social, physical, spiritual and cultural wellbeing of Ngā Pōtiki.

Ūhiatia te mātauranga, ūhia te tūāpapa ohaoha, ūhia te mauri, te māramatanga, ūhia ngā oati ā kui ma, ā koro ma, ūhiatia te reo tongarerewa. Kia tū te mana o Ngā Pōtiki.

We are committed to advancing the educational development of Ngā Pōtiki iwi, as agreed with the Crown in our Treaty settlement signed on December 14, 2013.

We have a comprehensive strategy that calls for a pipeline approach to achieving that goal. Here is a summary of the Ngā Pōtiki Education Strategy.

A key goal of ours is to collaborate with the Crown to drive up Māori educational success, in alignment with the Ministry of Education’s policy documents: Ka Awatea – Accelerating Māori Success (2013-2017), Ka Hikitia (2018-2022), Whakapūmautia, Papakōwhaitia, Tau ana – Grasp, Embrace and Realise, and Tātaiako – Cultural Competencies for Teachers of Māori Learners.

We collaborate with all Pāpāmoa schools, including Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ōtepou, to support overall educational achievement in Pāpāmoa. This is aligned with the Ministry of Education’s Kāhui Ako policy, in the interest of all learners.

‘The provision of educational opportunities specific to the needs of Ngā Pōtiki is underpinned by a pipeline approach, starting at early childhood, to compulsory and post-compulsory education, leading to workforce development, in parallel with the revitalisation of te reo Māori.’

Ūhia te mātauranga

Whao: Te Puna Reo o Ngā Pōtiki

The establishment of a Māori medium early childhood centre situated in the heart of Mānawa, supporting Ngā Pōtiki whānau and the broader community, by providing a Māori medium option in Pāpāmoa.

This project stemmed from a survey carried out in 2017 by Ngā Pōtiki to understand the educational needs of Māori living in Pāpāmoa. The survey identified a need for early learning, focused on quality, affordability, and a localised Ngā Pōtiki-centric curriculum, underpinned by te reo Māori. The underlying theme was a demand for a tamariki-focused, professional early education service that genuinely reflected the iwi community and prepared tamariki for a transition into Kura Kaupapa Māori.

In 2019, Ngā Pōtiki submitted to the Ministry of Education a proposal seeking support to establish a purpose-built early learning centre on land owned by Ngā Pōtiki.

A Tāne-nui-a-Rangi. I pikitia ai. Ki te Rangi-tuhaha. Ki Tihi-i-manono

Whao: Te Wānanga o Tamapahore

The establishment of a dual-medium secondary designated character school.

The school would cater to students from Year 7 through to Year 13, would be dual medium (Māori and English), would have a strong focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) subjects, as well as marine/maritime education, and Ngā Pōtikitanga. This designated character school would prepare young Māori for life in the rapidly growing and sophisticated economy of the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland, while maintaining their individual tribal identity.

In 2019, Ngā Pōtiki submitted a proposal to establish the dual-medium secondary designated character school to the Ministry of Education. Ngā Pōtiki is currently in discussions with Ministry officials to progress the development of the school.

Whaowhaotia ngā whakairo ā o mātua tīpuna

Whao: Te Ipukarea o Ngā Pōtiki – Ngā Pōtiki Resource Archive

A centralised collection of Ngā Pōtiki resources, including but not exclusive to: whakapapa, pakiwaitara, toi, hītori, ororongo and konae ataata. Accessible to Ngā Pōtiki uri, Te Ipukarea o Ngā Pōtiki will be a library supporting our people in the acquisition of traditional knowledge.

We are currently preparing a detailed proposal to fund the creation of this resource.

Ki te whei ao, ki ao marama

Whao: Ngā Pōtiki Gifted and Talented Programme

The Ngā Pōtiki Gifted and Talented Programme was launched in 2019 and was delivered by Ngā Pōtiki under contract to the Ministry of Education. The programme has been hugely successful, largely due to the expertise of Dr Rosemary Cathcart and Kathryn Bluett. This programme has involved all Pāpāmoa schools, with a focus on Māori learners.

The programme ends in 2020, after which time the achievements can be studied at length.

Ngā Pōtiki is a foundation member of the Te Ara Poutama Māori and Pasifika Trade Training Consortium, which also includes Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Ngāti Whakaue Iho-Ake Trust, Pacific Island Community (Tauranga) Trust, employers and industry training organisations.

The consortium is funded by the Tertiary Education Commission, which partners with the consortium to develop programmes aimed at bringing together and delivering the best support, experience and learning – for free.

Students gain the skills and experiences that employers need in small hands-on classes and on real work sites, with dedicated support available. When the students successfully complete the qualification/course, the consortium help to find them an apprenticeship.