1. Pursuant to sections 146, 156 and 156AA of the Education Act 1989, I hereby establish a Year 9–13 boys’ secondary school in Whakatu to be known as Te Aratika Academy, and designate the school as a designated character school.
2. The school will initially open for instruction for Year 11–13 students only with Year 9 and 10 provision being introduced subject to confirmation from the Education Review Office that the school is ready and that there is capacity for these students.
3. Te Aratika Academy will operate the following aims, purposes and objectives that will together constitute its designated character:

The school will engage and enrich young people in a culturally appropriate learning environment that emphasises Māori culture and values such as Manaakitanga and Mahi tahi. It will develop lifelong learners who are confident in their Māori worldview.

Learning at Te Aratika is provided through an English and Māori medium environment that acknowledges and celebrates Māori and Pacific heritage. The programmes include Māori learning preference and behaviours such as:

• ako – student is teacher and learner and whānau is inseparably part of the learning environment
• whakapapa – students can proclaim their identity, place, context and the mana of these
• whanaungatanga – nurturing quality teaching/learning relationships
• whānau – promotes the inclusion of family in all discussions about the student
• tuakana-teina – a buddy system that provides a model for all learning that recognises the ako of the tuakana teina roles
• kanohi-ki-te-kanohi – face to face interactions is the preferred way of communicating for Māori.

The school takes a culturally inclusive, holistic and kinaesthetic approach in order to effectively engage young males, many of whom are Māori and Pasifika, and might not have experienced success in a mainstream education settings.

Learning has a focus on providing a link between education and future employment, with a specific focus on civil construction in the workplace. Other industry pathways will also be included. This enables students to apply knowledge and learning to real life work situations.

The school will work with Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated in support of its education strategy ‘Te Tōpuni Tauwhāinga’.

4. The constitution of the board of trustees will be an alternative constitution in accordance with section 98A of the Education Act 1989.

This notice takes effect on the date of publication in the New Zealand Gazette.

Dated this 12th day of July 2018.

CHRIS HIPKINS, Minister of Education.