The Educational Renewal Programme for Christchurch saw the decision for Banks Avenue School to continue on a different site, which led to us having a purpose built school.

As we worked through the design brief for our ‘new’ school we also worked with mana whenua on developing our cultural narrative.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tūāhiriri gifted us the name Pareawa, which means adorning the banks of the river, i.e., pare (adorn) and awa (river).  The banks referred to are the banks of the Ōtākaro (Avon) river. 

Most people were seasonal visitors to Ōtākaro, just like the learners at Pareawa Banks Avenue school are visiting for a ‘season’ of their learning.