Future-focused and ancestrally driven at Arowhenua Māori School

Ashton, Solomon, Patrick, Ra, Iosefa, Tui and Harmony-Rose in front of the old school house at Arowhenua Māori School.

Upon arriving at her new job in 2016, it didn’t take long for Arowhenua Māori School tumuaki Bronwyn Te Koeti to realise that there simply wasn’t enough space to support their vision for teaching and learning.

The years had caught up with one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s oldest, original Native Schools, established following the Native Schools Act 1867 to provide for the setting up of primary schools in Māori communities.

 In what Bronwyn describes with a chuckle as “a bit of provocation”, she approached Opposition MPs at the time and “I told them, this is what we’ve got and this is what we need.”

She mooted the idea of renovating the kura tawhito (old school house), and was pleased when the renovation of the old building was included as a possible option as well.

But following thorough feasibility studies, it was discovered that much more was needed.

After further consultation with Mana Whenua Kāti Huirapa and the local hapori (community), Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | The Ministry of Education came back and said renovating the existing building “wouldn’t do” – they wanted to build a new school.

Looking back to move forward

At 127 years old, Arowhenua Māori School, situated at the end of Huirapa Road in Temuka, South Canterbury, is steeped in rich history.

Arowhenua Native School was officially opened on 18 February 1895 by Tame Parata, who was MP for Southern Māori at the time. He named the new building Tarahaoa, the ancient name for Mount Peel.

In 1879 the 57 native schools were transferred to the Department of Education, which had been established in 1877.

In 1969, the Native Schools Act was abolished, Māori schools were mainstreamed and controlled by regional education boards.

Arowhenua Māori School principal Bronwyn Te Koeti.

However, there was strong resistance in the community, especially among local Māori – the school and marae sit on the same piece of whenua and there is a strong sense of ownership.

“This community said ‘kāo’. There were six generations of some of our whānau coming to kura,” says Bronwyn.

“So, it changed from Arowhenua Native School to Arowhenua Māori School and has remained that since.”

A living work of art

“You cannot underestimate the intrinsic value of having symbolism and tohu for our tamariki,” says Bronwyn.

From the beginning of the development, the school worked closely with Kāti Huirapa and the Ministry of Education. Community consultation was a priority.

But when it came to the overall design and vision for what the school would look like, Bronwyn says it was essential that tamariki were involved, especially tuakana (senior students), right down to finer details like choosing colours.

“Our architect worked really closely with the children. The tamariki were asked patai (questions) like: what is your ideal school and what would you like?” she says.

Some of the requests from the students included a quiet space, “almost cave-like” for activities like art. They also wanted their whare pukapuka (library) back.

“I watch them play. Even the carpet was designed by one of our kairaranga (weavers). It resembles a braided river and they jump across the awa,” she says.

“It’s wonderful to hear that they feel like their voices have been heard. They will learn and grow amongst that.”

There is also a strong cultural narrative in terms of the design of the kura.

In order to move forward into the future, there must be acknowledgement of the past.

Bronwyn says, “It has been essential to work with local Māori and pay homage to the deep connection between them, the school and the history of the area – a history this little school has been an integral part of.”

Most Kāi Tahu iwi descendants link back to Te Tiritiri o te Moana the Southern Alps and one moment of magic, Bronwyn says, was when the brickwork was being designed.

“When you look at it, it moves and looks like Te Tiritiri o te Moana. All that mātauraka (learning) that can come from a pile of bricks,” she says.

“As a place of learning, I’m honoured to have that on show.”

Arowhenua Māori School students Ra, Solomon, Krystal and Samantha in their Rūma Auaha (Creative Space).

Full circle

Bronwyn often seeks solitude in the kura tawhito (old school house) “Tarahaoa”, which still remains on the school grounds.

It has a lovely wairua (spirit), she says, and she finds herself imagining what it would have been like all those years ago.

Bronwyn was thrilled when the Ministry agreed to restore the old school house and relocate it back to its original site near the entrance of the school.

“Where it is currently sitting at the back of the kura, it doesn’t give it mana. It can once again take pride of place,” she says.

“It’s very exciting and almost feels like we are back to where it all started.”

Bronwyn says they have been waiting for the right time to hold the official opening, and collectively decided on the second to last day of term 3. The day will be a celebration of the past, the present and the future.

While there have been challenges, including a global pandemic with repercussions very few have escaped, Bronwyn says the experience can be compared symbolically to the many pūrākau-ā-iwi (tribal accounts) of the area with heaps of twists and turns.

“The beauty of a good story is its ability to flow. Although we have had a few hiccups along the way, this is going to be a place of learning that many more generations of this community will enjoy for years to come.”

The kura tawhito (old school house) at Arowhenua Māori School will be restored back to its former glory. Photo: Supplied.