'We nurture ākonga to foster a positive caring culture - growing our ‘rito’ to feel safe, valued, and supported for learning success.’

The significance of our Māori school name - Te Rito Harakeke

In Māori culture, the harakeke (flax) plant represents whanau (family), and the rito (the shoot), is the child. It is surrounded by the awhi rito (protective parents). The outside leaves represent the tupuna (grandparents or ancestors). At Marshland School, we embrace this concept and believe that the harakeke symbolises all of us (children, parents, caregivers, grandparents, school) as a whānau, working together for the good of our tamariki.