Find out about our Kāhui Ako...

The Waimairi-iri Kāhui Ako was formed in September 2012 through the Greater Christchurch renewal programme.

Naming

Te Kura O Waimairi-iri was the name gifted to Burnside High School, the 'Waimairi-iri' being shared with the Kāhui Ako.

In the Burnside High School Naming Document (2021), Mātauraka Mahaanui wrote:

Wai refers to water and iri-iri to baptism/immersion in the water of the puna/springs in local streams, especially Hewlings Stream [notably visible in Jellie Park]. Young people were taken to this area for training and learning as they transitioned from childhood to adulthood. The final act of this training was for them to be baptised/immersed in the water, a symbol of moving into a new phase of their lives. The water from a spring and stream near the school site was used by local iwi to protect young people from the hot dry winds before embarking on their first trip to hunt and gather food.

Aims of the Kāhui Ako

The aim of forming this group was to move away from individual institutions and services, to enhance collaboration and innovation across the education sector and to improve resources, facilities and opportunities within our communities.

We are a community of educational services which include Early Childhood Centres, Primary, Intermediate, Secondary Schools and a Specialist School.

We have implemented plans to develop open communication in order to work in a collaborative way and have a desire to strengthen links within our community to benefit every learner.

We have worked to develop a strong feeling of collegiality and a sense of belonging within our community with a genuinely supportive and collaborative desire for every learner to achieve the best possible educational outcomes.

The learners in our community are students, staff and whānau. Our vision is that all participants in our Waimairi-iri Kāhui Ako collaborate using an inquiring mindset. We all have ownership of our vision and a role to play in achieving it.