Historically, the area that Hoon Hay School sits on would have been a mix of swampy marsh amongst Kahikatea forest. Along Hoon Hay Road was sandbank/dry plain ridge that extended out towards Wigram where it joined up with another historic dry plain which extended from Westlake to South Halswell. Between these dry plains and the Port Hills was a large swampland, often referred to today as the Henderson Basin.

Te Kura Kōaka

Translated this means “The School of the Kōaka”. Kōaka is the Ngāi Tahu name for kahikatea/white pine. This name recognises the stands of kōaka that were once present in the area. The kōaka tree is noted for their need to grow together, interlacing their root systems in order to grow strong and tall within a swampy environment. The way the kōaka develops can be compared to the way our Hoon Hay students grow, learn and support each other to be the best each can be while also contributing to an overall strong school community. Use of the word Kura also makes a direct connection to Te Heru o Kahukura (Sugarloaf) which is a prominent mountain seen from the school and features in the kōwhaiwhai design on the school kapa haka uniforms.