It has been 10 years since we were approved as a Sec 156 Designated School by the Hon Dr Pita Sharples who was Associate Minister at the time.

When we received the phone call, we couldn't quite believe it. It had been three long and frustrating years since we had submitted our application to the Ministry and finally we had the green light to open our own pā wānanga. Within hours a small group of us were meeting to figure out what to do now! None of us actually knew how to open a new kura but we took a deep breath and did it anyway. We had one year to establish a board, appoint our Kaiurungi and staff; write our charter and policies; prepare a school and enrol our first cohort. 

They said, build it and they will come. And come they did. Our whānau came in droves to to help get our first temporary buildings at Richmond ready. They dug gardens, moved old furniture out, built furniture, laid carpets, painted rooms and got our learning spaces ready. 

And then did it all again 6 months later when we moved to our current site in Linwood. 

In Jan 2015 we welcomed our first whānau. 

We had a marquee for a hall and had converted an old hall in to a wharekai. 

It was exciting and frightening all at the same time.We were building the waka as we were launching it and the first five years are now a blur. Not much sleep, lots of firsts and so many moments of immense pride. 

Today, the anxiousness has subsided a little but the excitement and pride in what we have established has not. Our waka is well and truly launched and in the water. We have weathered many storms including pandemics and mosque shootings. Governments have changed, Ministry people have changed and our whānau have changed along the way but our kaupapa remains constant. 

Tamaiti akona i te pā tū ki te ao, tau ana!

We welcome all our new whānau and staff this year as we witness the smooth change at the helm with the departure of our first Kaiurungi, Tauira Takurua after almost 10 years

and the smooth transition to our Kaiurungi hou, Terina Tahau, who is not new at all to this kaupapa and has been helping steer this waka from the outset. 

2024 is already shaping up to be another busy and exciting year in the pā. In January we held our Oho Mauri, Planning Retreat, in Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū in the beautiful whare of Tūtehuarewa, at Koukourārata, overlooking the calm waters of Whakaraupo i raro i te maru o Manukuia, o Kakanui, o Te Upoko o Hinetewai, o Te Heru o Kahukura, o Te Ahu Patiki hoki . 

It was significant that we met in Te Pātaka and in Tūtehuarewa, named for our tipuna who was renowned for manaaki tamariki.

We took the time to reflect on our journey so far and agree our priorities for this year. In 2023, in the aftermath of COVID, we committed to reigniting Te Pā o Rākaihautū and all that it stands for, to be "unapologetically Te Pā" - Kia pono ki te kaupapa; to reawakening our reo, te whakakōrero te arero; and immersing ourselves in mātaiao for the wellbeing of our taiao and our whānau - Oranga Wai, Oranga Whānau. We spent some time reviewing our progress and agreed that while we have made some headway our priorities continue to centre on:

• Te whakakōrero te arero - we will be doubling down on our efforts to normalise te reo a waha across the pā whether it is in our classrooms or in the playground and in our homes. Watch this space - we will need your help 
• Whakawhanaungatanga - re-engaging whānau in our kaupapa.  We can not do what we do without your help so we will be reaching out this year for you to help us help you. 
• Te Ao Taurikura - Kaupapa-based learning. We are also keen to strengthen our teaching and learning practises so that we centre on kaupapa that are important to us. One of the benefits of being part of Ngā Kura ā Iwi is that we will be able to tap into some important PD they have developed for kura in this area.  

I will do my best, as Chairperson to provide regular reports from Te Tautarinui particularly around developments with our new site, design and build. Bring on the next 10 years!

Kia ū ki te kaupapa -  Hold tight to our kaupapa, it is what will keep us afloat through good and hard times.