A New Chapter for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei’s Kura
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei recently celebrated the arrival of their new kura with a traditional pōwhiri at ōrākei Marae. The event marked the beginning of an exciting journey as Ripeka Murray officially took on the role of tumuaki, or principal, for Te Kura o Ngāti Whātua ki Tamaki.
Murray, who comes from the iwi of Ngāi te Rangi, Ngāti Raukawa, and Muaūpoko, previously served as the tumuaki of Te Moutere o Matakana, a small kura on Matakana Island near Tauranga. Her experience and dedication have now been directed towards leading Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei’s new charter school through its foundational years.
In February, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei announced plans to open their new charter school in July. This project has been the result of decades of effort and commitment by the iwi. The pōwhiri was attended by members of Murray’s whānau, a cohort from Tauranga Moana, and mana whenua, highlighting the community’s support and involvement.
Speaking about her new role, Murray expressed feelings of both humility and privilege, despite not having direct whakapapa ties to Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. She emphasized that it is an honor to work alongside the people of the iwi and help bring their long-held dreams to life.
“This kura is really driven by the dreams and aspirations of the whānau. I’m just here to bring all that together, to use my skills and abilities to do so and carry the kura into a space that has been dreamed up by Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei and the wider community,” she said.
As a charter school, the kura will be designed to meet the specific needs of its tamariki. Murray also highlighted the importance of drawing on the strengths of established kura such as Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori and Ngā Kura Ā Iwi, which have valuable resources and practices that can contribute to the kura’s future development.
A Historic Appointment
Marama Royal, chair of the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust, described Murray’s appointment as a “historic” and “exciting” moment for the iwi. While there is still work to be done to get the kura up and running, Royal expressed confidence in Murray’s ability to lead the school effectively.
“We have been waiting for Ripeka to officially come to us, and then she will hit the ground running, getting the last minute preparations ready,” Royal said. “We’ve started the recruitment of our tauira, and the space that the kura will be operating from is nearly finished.”
Royal praised Murray as a “standout” candidate for the role, noting her visionary approach and willingness to dream. “She said she’s a dreamer, and that was music to our ears because that’s what we want—someone who’s not afraid to be visionary.”
Challenges and Opportunities
Opening a brand-new kura halfway through the year presents its own set of challenges. Royal acknowledged that some tauira may need to transition from other schools, as the kura will initially focus on Year 9 and Year 10 students.
“We want to ensure we have a strong cohort of tauira for those two years before expanding next year,” she said. “This might be a difficult decision for some whānau, but we’ve been working to provide them with the answers they need to feel confident that their tamariki will be well cared for.”
Murray’s first priority upon starting her role will be to build relationships with the people of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and their mokopuna. “To be on the ground, to make those relationships with our people, then with our mokopuna,” she said. “From there, everything I feel will start to fall into place.”
Looking Ahead
The opening of the kura on July 20 is expected to be a special occasion for the iwi, their whānau, and the educators who will be part of this new educational journey. With the support of the community and the leadership of Ripeka Murray, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is taking a significant step toward realizing their vision for the future of their tamariki.
No comments:
Post a Comment