Our Past, New Beginnings - Te Paeroa

On our first Teacher Only Day of the year on January 26th, the entire staff of our kura attended a pōhiri held at Wairoa Marae. Our staff were graciously welcomed onto the marae by Ngati Kahu and we had the privilege of learning about the history of our local area.

Led by Charlie Rahiri, our staff spent the morning hearing about key events and people of the past and their role in the Bethlehem community. Our staff learned that the land our school is currently on was originally gifted by Ngati Kahu for the kura. This whenua was known as Te Paeroa.

Originally Bethlehem Primary School was opened in 1883 under the name "Paeroa Native School". In the 1920s the name was changed to the Bethlehem Native School. Then in the 1960s it eventually became Bethlehem Primary School.

Honouring and acknowledging our past, the name Te Paeroa has now been bestowed on the Rumaki Unit after discussions with local Hapu representatives.

This name for our Rumaki will now sit aside the other team names at our kura, Reweti for our Junior School (named to acknowledge the Reweti whānau who have played a significant role in our kura for generations), Wiremu for our Middle School (named to acknowledge a young Bethlehem student, Vallance Wiremu Luke Taupiri Jack-Kino 29.8.1992 - 5.11.1998) who sadly passed away and Carmichael for our Senior school (named to acknowledge the Carmichael family who have played a significant role in our kura for generations and have deep connections to the land around our school).

Thank you to Ngati Kahu for their ongoing support and aroha.

Further information to come in future newsletters. Watch this space...

He waka eke noa

A canoe which we are all in with no exception