Our Kāhui Ako

Ngā Mātāpuna o te Waihora was originally a Community Cluster established after the Christchurch Earthquakes in 2011. Since that time the four schools and six Early Childhood Centres have worked together. A decision was made by the Board of Trustees of the four schools to apply to form a Kāhui Ako in 2017.

On Monday 21 August Minister of Education Nikki Kaye approved the Community of Learning/Kāhui Ako submission from Ellesmere College, Southbridge School, Leeston Consolidated School and Dunsandel School.

Our submission was one of 13 new Communities of Learning Kāhui Ako announced by the Minister. A Community of Learning/Kāhui Ako is a group of education and training providers that form around children and young people's learning pathways, and work together to help them achieve their full potential. The Communities of Learning/Kāhui Ako is part of the Government’s initiative Investing in Educational Success (IES).

Leeston Playcentre, Southbridge Playcentre, Dunsandel Playcentre, Active Explorers Leeston, Children First Leeston and Dunsandel Blue Goose have all been confirmed as members of Ngā Mātāpuna o te Waihora - September 2018.