Tumuake Jade Tapine welcomes Taanetinorau Stewart, one of the 10 new students to Te Wharekura o Ngā Purapura o Te Aroha
A Te Awamutu Wharekura welcomed 10 new students with a powhiri this week.
Te Wharekura o Ngā Purapura o Te Aroha has been on its site adjacent to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Factory Rd since 2007 – but it was only last year that the year 1-13 school was able to fully open its wings with their very own purpose build that caters to Māori medium education here Te Awamutu.
A comprehensive building programme gave the students – now numbering 110 – an open plan facility with senior and junior wings, a gymnasium, a food-tech room, a science lab, an art room, breakout rooms, sick bay and an outdoor sports court – and even a music room, and recording studio.
Staff and existing students welcome their new classmates on Tuesday.
The school roll has more than double in the last five years.
It is lead by Tumuaki (Principal) Jade Tapine who is in his 14th and potentially most exciting, year at the kura.
