MEDIA RELEASE (31 October 2013)
We’ll Have to Be Careful What We Wish For Now’
That was the advice that Panetuku Rae gave to her fellow Ngati Tamaoho trustees when they realised that what they
thought was a distant dream of having a kura-a-Tamaoho was suddenly about to become a reality. In 2011, Ngati Tamaoho, a
Wai-o-hua hapu living mainly in the southern Auckland – northern Waikato area, were immersed in the often stressful work
associated with Treaty claims negotiations. To remind themselves of the better future that they hoped would result, they
drafted a wish list, never imagining that anything significant would occur for at least decades.
But in May this year, Hauauru Rawiri, Chairperson of the Kereru Park Campus in Papakura, heard about their idea and
suggested that they work together to make it a reality. “Our aspirations are similar so it makes sense for us to join
forces”, he says. “We both want better outcomes for our tamariki, a campus that promotes lifelong learning, and a
curriculum that recognises the dual cultural heritage of this country while being inclusive of whanau of all ethnic
backgrounds.” Dennis Kirkwood, chairperson of Ngati Tamaoho agrees, emphasising that part of what they found so
attractive about the Kereru Park proposal is that it is a ‘mainstream’ school, without a zone; so “everyone can join
with us in this exciting adventure of developing a school tailored to meet our particular local needs and interests”.
Ngati Tamaoho and Kereru Park are inviting the public to join them in celebrating the launch of this joint initiative on
Sunday (November 3) at the school (58 Beach Road, Papakura) from 10am-3pm. There will be a range of free activities for
everyone: sports, games, give-aways, swimming, bouncy castles and, of course, a sausage sizzle.
ENDS