About the school

Te Paepae O Aotea is a school of approximately 1100 students and opened at the start of the 2023 school year. This school is catering for students for year 7- 15. Te Paepae O Aotea was formed in response to the closure of Hawera High School and Hawera Intermediate School at the end of the 2022 school year.

The school's name, Te Paepae o Aotea, was gifted to us by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui and Te Korowai o Ngāruahine. Alongside the name, this school also gifted a whakatauākī and logo. There are two major components to school's name, Paepae and Aotea and the condensed meaning is “We are on the learning journey of Aotea, as the people of South Taranaki, realising our full potential.”Our whakatauāki, ‘Kia eke atu ki Taupaenui o te tangata,’ challenges us to instil in our students the tools to help them achieve their full potential, in the pursuits they and their whānau deem important. Our cultural narrative is the foundation that we use to unpack elements of Mātauranga Māori. Te Ao Māori is prioritised across the curriculum. A school wide culturally responsive pedagogy builds a family-like context, in which restorative practice promotes a healthy community and maintains authentic relationships.

This school's eight Guiding Principles are interwoven into the teaching and learning at Te Paepae o Aotea; Culturally Inclusive; Personalised Learning Journey; Social, Physical and Emotional Curriculum; Authentic Connections; Future-focused Curriculum; Expert Teaching; Community Contribution; Striving for Excellence.

School Values

AOTEA

Our value of Aotea represents a caring environment for all students, staff, whānau and community to explore identity.

We create safe and caring learning environments.

We value and celebrate individual mana.

We develop authentic relationships.

TAUPAENUI

The value of Taupaenui supports the attainment of human potential, the pursuit of knowledge and striving for excellence.

We uphold a learning culture that is inclusive and diverse.

We strive for personal excellence.

We have a positive attitude and a growth mindset.

PAEPAE

The value of Paepae supports the courage, adventure, strength, persistence and the pursuit of knowledge in the learning environment.

We are courageous and visionary.

We challenge with confidence, where appropriate.

We support each other to overcome obstacles and build resilience.

Junior Curriculum

The Junior School timetable (Year 7-10) offers students personalised and engaging learning opportunities that enable academic and personal success. It provides a range of opportunities for authentic learning across the curriculum. It is a deliberate approach to curriculum structure, scaffolding student agency and is taught through the local context.

Whare Groups

Te Paepae o Aotea students are placed in one of our four whare (house) groups, named after four of the Awa (rivers) in South Taranaki connecting us with Maunga Taranaki, land and sea. Our four Awa compete against each other in inter-Awa competition in all aspects of school life – academic, sports, art and culture.

Each Awa has students from the junior and senior school and a buddy system in place.
Our four Awa are: Pātea – the place where Aotea waka docked, Tangahoe – the place in which the hoe o Aotea waka rests, Waingongoro – the resting place of Turi, where he snored and Kaūpokonui – where the shape of a head rose within the cliff face. Students explore the significance of their Awa during their time at Te Paepae o Aotea.

With each whare comes significant korero that has been shared with us to uphold the mana of these names. Along with the kōrero, we also have colours which hold their own significance to each awa. We are very fortunate to have been blessed with these names for our Whare.

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