Te Kura Maori o Waatea

Press Release
11th September 2014
Manukau Urban Maori Authority

The Manukau Urban Maori Authority (MUMA) is pleased to announce its sponsorship of Te Kura Maori o Waatea which will open in February next year.

Located at Nga Whare Waatea marae in Mangere, the kura will be phased in over five years and by 2019, students will be enrolled in class levels 1 to 8.

Pupils at Te Kura Maori o Waatea will receive an education that is grounded in Kaupapa Maori principles and they will also be exposed to relevant Steiner educational practices.

The Chief Executive of MUMA, Willie Jackson says, "Our teaching approach will be 'whole of child, whole of whanau.' We expect every parent to engage in their child's learning and if they can't, then we will support them to do so. As a lead provider of Whanau Ora, MUMA is in a unique position of being able to provide wrap around services to whanau.

The low level of achievement by Maori students is unacceptable. In a high deprivation area like Mangere, too many of our kids are failing. We know that Maori children perform better in Maori medium schools, but there are not enough of them. That is why MUMA is sponsoring a partnership school, i.e. to markedly improve the future prospects of its pupils and in turn, their families."

Jackson says that he is well aware of the controversy that partnership schools has attracted. "I will vigorously challenge anyone who thinks that the status quo of low Maori achievement is acceptable. All of our teachers will be fully qualified and will follow the New Zealand Curriculum. Furthermore we intend to work with neighbouring schools, not compete against them."

MUMA has been through a lengthy and rigorous selection and contractural process with the Ministry of Education. Running a school in South Auckland is not for the faint hearted, but we're ready and prepared for the challenge.

ENDS

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