Te Tautarinui o Matariki is one of the cluster of stars that guided Rākaihautū on his journeys through Te Wai Pounamu.

We named our board Te Tautarinui o Matariki because its primary role is to provide clear direction for our Kaiurungi and her team of kaihautū; to champion and defend the pā and our kaupapa and to provide oversight and leadership.

Like many things in Te Pā, we resisted following the mainstream in how they elect their school boards. We have developed an Alternative Constitution (See Gazette Notice attached) that recognises the importance of our whakapapa as an organisation and our special character. Under this constitution Nōku Te Ao Charitable Trust as our founding body appoint five of the Trustees and whānau nominate two more trustees who then go through a selection process driven by an independent panel, Te Pae Kōkōraki. The process for nomination and selection of the whānau representatives is detailed in the attached gazette notice. 

Essentially Te Pae Kōkōraki will call a meeting of the whānau to discuss the process. From there whānau can submit their nominations within a two week time frame. Te Pae Kōkōraki will then shortlist nominations based on a set of criteria they have developed and carry out hui whananunga with those who have been shortlisted. The successful nominees will then be notified. This will all happen before the end of July. A timeline will be shared with the whānau within the next few weeks that will include a date for the whānau hui. 

Our current mātua representatives are Tini Winiata (Te Mātua a Luca) and Kay-Lee Jones (Te māmā a Hawaiki, Cina-Rose and Wi-Xavier).