Pursuant to sections 146 and 156 of the Education Act
1989, I hereby establish a designated character Year 1-13
co-educational school to be known as Te Pa o Rakaihautu, and designate the school as a designated character school, in Christchurch.
Te Pa o Rakaihautu will operate the following aims, purposes and objectives which will together constitute its designated character:
(a) Te Pa o Rakaihautu will provide a unique educational opportunity for the rohe of greater Christchurch by providing place-based curriculum for the 21st century founded on tikanga and Te Reo Maori, Te Ao Maori values, culture and history in a pa based setting. To this end it will require all staff and curriculum of the school to implement the aims, purposes and objectives set out in the school's charter.
(b) The kaupapa of the school will be based on the tipuna Rakaihautu, and built on traditional learning and teaching pedagogies adapted for 21st century learning, deeply anchoring learning in Te Wai Pounamu and reinforcing pa values.
(c) Te Pa o Rakaihautu will offer an education that
is based on whole-of-whanau (whanaungatanga) principles.
(d) Te Pa o Rakaihautu will:
- Restore Maori teaching pedagogy, values, culture and identify as a foundation to educational success in a pa village environment that encourages the whole whanau to engage and participate in their own education.
- Reconnect our whanau with place, people and Papatuanuku (mother earth).
- Re-ignite a passion for learning, discovery and challenge.
- Re-set expectations. Every child will succeed.
The school will open for instruction for Year 1-10 students only in Term 1, 2015, with Year 11-13 being added progressively in each of the subsequent five years as follows:
- For 2015, the school will enrol Year 1-10 students.
- As from 2016, the school will enrol Year 1-11 students.
- As from 2017, the school will enrol Year 1-12 students.
- As from 2018, the school will enrol Year 1-13 students.
Constitution of the Establishment Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees of Te Pa o Rakaihautu shall be comprised of:
(a) five people appointed by the Associate Minister of Education;
(b) the principal or principal designate; and
(c) not more than four people co-opted by the board.
Dated this 19th day of February 2014.
HON DR PITA SHARPLES, Associate Minister of Education.