Principal’s Welcome

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. What a privilege it is to be Tumuaki, Principal of Onerahi School.

Onerahi School is a friendly and caring place to learn and work, and sits in a prime position in Onerahi, a seaside suburb of Whangārei. We connect closely to Parihaka, our maunga and Hātea, our awa and we take great pride in being able to walk the lands of our ancestors.

The school is close to Matakohe Limestone Island, Dragonfly Springs Wetlands and the Marine Reserves of the Whangārei Harbour. We make the most of learning opportunities in our local community and contribute to the future  of our environment. 

Achieving Green Gold status as an environmental school in 2017 recognised our commitment to a sustainable future. We have fruit and vegetable gardens, beehives (our honey is delicious), we make Kawa Kawa balm, and we are continually looking for ways to make improvements. The Garden to Table programme is now in full swing and our tauira are engaging in learning new  skills and utilising our produce in the kitchen.

We value people’s culture and identity and their connections to Aotearoa New Zealand. Understanding who we are, where we belong and our relationships with people and places are important aspects of our kaupapa. 

Our vision, Together We Shape Our Future, drives all that we do at Onerahi School and empowers students, their whānau and staff to grow as learners. We are grounded in ownership, collaboration and growing our capabilities as we continue our pathways into the future. Our tamariki have a strong voice in the way they learn and what happens for them at school. Whānau are encouraged and welcomed on this journey and strong relationships are valued. 

We are on an exciting journey designing a rich local curriculum and building capacity in Te Reo Māori me ona tikanga.  As we define Onerahitanga and acknowledge what we do well here at Onerahi School, we invite you along on this journey. This will shape our future together.

At Onerahi School one of the questions we are always asking ourselves is “why” and this has led to a culture of innovation and development. We are recognised in local, national and international circles as a progressive school and visits from teachers, administrators and leaders of education is common. All our visitors recognise and admire the culture they see and feel within the school. 

We are proud to work and learn at Onerahi School. Haere mai. Come and see us anytime.

Annmaree MacGregor