Wharenui of Te Kura Tuarua o Horomaka - Hillmorton High School
@ Admin — Feb 28, 2019
Kia ora whānau
Yesterday marked the third time that our whole school enjoyed a visit to the Wharenui of Te Kura Tuarua o Horomaka - Hillmorton High School.
We were warmly welcomed on by a pōwhiri, a rousing haka and speeches, all led by students at Hillmorton High School.
What a rich learning experience for our children, teachers and parents and an opportunity to build on the connections and relationships we already have with our whānau there. A huge thank you to Whaea Mitch Luke and Whaea Kororia, along with the students of Hillmorton High, for making it such an awesome experience.
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by @ Admin
Hoon Hay School, Te Kura Kōaka
@ Admin — Feb 24, 2019
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.
