Hon Steve Maharey
Minister of Education
Hon Parekura Horomia
Minister of Mäori Affairs
30 May 2006 Media Statement

$5.9 million for upgrade of Te Ara Hou

The government will invest $5.9 million for brand new facilities for Te Kura Kaupapa Maori Te Ara Hou in Napier, Education Minister Steve Maharey and Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia announced today.

"The government is committed to providing a world-class learning environment in every school," Steve Maharey said. "This funding will enable Te Ara Hou to move from its temporary site at Pirimai and establish a brand new state-of-the-art wharekura on the former Wycliffe Intermediate site."

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Ara Hou is a total immersion school for years 1 to 13, which includes kohanga reo, kura and wharekura. The new facilities will cater for around 190 students with plans to expand the roll further. There will be 14 classrooms, including specialist facilities for arts, music, drama and science. A Kohanga, providing early childhood education, will also be built into the design.

The former classrooms have been removed from the new site, with the exception of the hall, which will be converted into a gym. Construction of the new facilities will begin shortly and is expected to be completed by mid next year.

Students at the wharekura performed well in NCEA, including 83.3% of year 11 students achieving an NCEA Level 1 qualification in 2005 (compared to 56.2% nationally). The wharekura has also been involved in developing Art (Nga Toi Ataata) exemplars (at year 1 and year 8 levels).

Parekura Horomia said the school had a strong whanau focus, which contributed to its success. "It is vital that whanau are engaged and understand the role they can play in education. Te Ara Hou is a great example of how strong involvement from whanau contributes to lifting achievement for all students."

Steve Maharey said the government was making big increases to school property funding through this year's Budget. "Capital funding for schools will increase by $148.9 million, taking it to $527.8 million in 2006/07. The big investment we've made in property since 1999 means schools can now use funding to continue modernising their buildings and creating environments suitable for the 21st century."

ENDS

© Scoop Media