as gifted by Ngāi Tūāhuriri who have considered the geographical and cultural aspects of the area of the school and have gifted us the name Te Huarahi.

Our Cultural Narrative

On 30 September/30 Maharu 2021, we were gifted our beautiful name from Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri rūnganga. Our gifted name is ‘Te Huarahi’ which translates as the pathway.

Our  Cultural Narrative recognises the historical relationship between the place and the people that our school is part of. It tells what is unique about our place and people and it helps to build a common understanding of heritage, traditional and spiritual connections, and values.

 Our Cultural narratives  will guide our schools' decisions about the culture and curriculum in the school, and shape our connections with the wider community

The Cultural Narrative gives us a name that is inclusive of the actual community we serve and is not just based on the physical location of the school.We acknowledge the proud history of the name ‘Linwood Avenue’ which dates back to 1928.

Linwood Avenue, the road on which our school is situated, was and still is, a very significant pathway.One way leading to Te Ihutai ( The Estuary) and in the other direction, the Ōtākaro/Avon River.

The Estuary/Ihutai was an important food resource and it was renown for its abundance and variety of kai moana:-

• tuna/eels

• Kanakana/Lamprey

• Inaka/whitebait

• Pātaki/ flounder

• Pipi

The foothills provided shelter so there were some settlements there.

The Ihutai/Estuary was itself a pathway to the huge network of wetland pathways and City Plans from the 19th Century show how the planners of the time, utilised the natural waterways to design three major ‘Canal Reserves’. Long straight roads that we know today as Linwood Avenue, Marshlands Road and Sparks Road. 

Had they been transformed into canals as originally designed, they would have formed an uninterrupted network connecting all the rivers of the region. However it would have had a huge ecological and environmental impact.

We look forward to developing  our understanding and knowledge of our local area as part of our currciulum.