North Canterbury Schools Embrace Collaboration

Saturday, 18 January 2025, 10:20 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

North Canterbury schools have been thinking big.

The 18 schools in the Puketeraki Kahui Ako (Rangiora community of learning) have found there are opportunities for improvement through collaboration across the country.

Lead principal Brian Price, of Swannanoa School, said Puketeraki has been working closely with the other two North Canterbury kahui ako and last year joined forces to form a national kahui ako association.

‘‘We are trying to work more closely together, especially around professional development (PD).

‘‘The area schools are quite different, but we have a lot in common and when we combine together this is a big resource.

‘‘When I first took over as lead principal, I thought about where do you find examples of PD in a certain area, where do you find job descriptions, how do different schools use their finances?

"Chances are, someone else will have done it.’’

Canterbury schools were already networking as part of the Grow Waitaha Kahui Ako Network, but Mr Price wanted to see it replicated across the country.

In May last year the three North Canterbury kahui ako lead principals joined forces to organise the first Aotearoa National Kāhui Ako Gathering in Christchurch, with support from other local principals.

There are 219 kahui ako across New Zealand, comprising around 80 percent of schools.

Kahui ako bring together primary and secondary schools and pre-schools in a local area.

‘‘We are the only organisation which has a strong lens on the state of education across all sectors in our communities from age 0 to 18-years,’’ Mr Price said.

He said the benefit of a kahui ako is having staff at pre-schools, primary and secondary schools ‘‘all hearing the same message’’.

Puketeraki Kahui Ako comprises Rangiora High School, 17 primary schools, 16 pre-schools, 280 teachers and around 5400 students.

Te Kāhui Ako Kātote (Kaiapoi) comprises Kaiapoi High School, eight primary schools and local local pre-schools, while Tipu Maia Kahui Ako comprises six area schools, seven Hurunui primary schools and pre-schools.

The Kātote lead principal is Trish McKendry, of St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School in Kaiapoi, while Maree Lucas, of Omihi School, is Tipu Maia lead principal.

Loburn School principal Stuart Priddy said the relationship between local schools and Rangiora High School ‘‘is the best its ever been’’, which helps provide better outcomes for students.

‘‘It is becoming a seamless transition.’’

Mr Price said having pre-schools involved in the kahui ako helps to improve the transition for students starting school.

Amberley Pre-School centre manager Kelly Scanlan said it was important to have an early childhood education voice.

‘‘The collaboration has changed the way we do things and the kahui invites us to the many hui it runs.’’
Kaiapoi High School principal Jason Reid said the collaboration across kahui ako has multiple benefits.

‘‘We want to make sure we are not duplicating between kahui ako because we all have limited resources.

"Brian and Trish do kahui really well. They meet real needs which sometimes get lost.’’

He hopes kahui ako will continue to receive Ministry of Education funding.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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