Kaupapa Māori at Wakatipu High School

Tēnā tātou katoa

Ko Kawarau te mauka

Ko Kawarau te awa

Ko Whakatipu-wai-māori te roto

Ko Tāhuna te papakāika

E ngā mano, e ngā rahi, e ngā hau e whā. Tēnei te mihi maioha ki a koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai ki te reo pōwhiri o Te Kura Tuarua o Whakatipu. Mai i te whenua ki rangi, mai i te rangi ki te whenua, tihei mauri ora!

To the thousands, to the many, to the four winds (to everyone). We greet you all. We extend the welcoming greetings of Wakatipu High School. From the earth to the heavens, from the heavens to the earth (encompassing all things), let there be life!


An important part of Wakatipu High School is our connection with our mana whenua Kāi Tahu. Wakatipu High School is situated underneath the sacred mana of Kawarau the mauka (mountain), sits atop the whenua of Te Kirikiri, and we have a close connection with the awa, Kawarau and the roto, Whakatipu-wai-Māori; it is important for our tauira (students) and their whānau (family) to understand that special relationship. 

Ko Te Kura Tuarua o Whakatipu e mihi atu nei ki a koutou te mana whenua ko Kāi Tahu.

Wakatipu High School falls within the rohe of Kāi Tahu who advise us. While our kura is within the rohe of Kāi Tahu, our 140 or so students who whakapapa Māori originate from iwi all across the motu.  

We have a rich and diverse Māori history in this rohe and we actively teach our students about this - particularly the links to Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe and Kāi Tahu. Tāhuna is an area of shared interest, with many hapū from around the coastlines of Ōtākou and Murihiku (including our whānui from Ōraka Aparima rūnaka) coming to this area each year to access the ara tawhito, traditional travel routes to access pounamu from Te Tai Poutini, and mahika kai, traditional food sources such as weka, taramea, moa, tuna and mātuhi. 

​​Māori & Pasifika Events

We have a plethora of activities for our rangatahi to engage with including local Polyfest competitions, Ngā Manu Kōrero, and local as well as regional kapa haka events alongside the likes of noho marae and biannual trips to Northland and Waitangi in particular.

Ko wai mātou? Who are we? 

Our Whānau Advisory Group (WAG) is a group of whānau members who have joined together to support our rakatahi at Wakatipu High School. We meet at least once per term and have representatives from mana whenua, whānau, staff, the Board of Trustees and tauira. Our whānau Māori includes families from a wide variety of iwi from around Aotearoa, and once again we meet once per term to monitor and support the progress the school is making with its Māori students and kaupapa. During these hui we share information, achievements, opportunities and challenges. All whānau are welcome to attend these hui and they are led by the WAG. We advertise these hui via our newsletter, email and social media.

Ryan Gilbertson is our Kaihāpai Māori at our kura. His role is to provide Māori students and whānau with cultural, pastoral and academic support. He also helps to lead the development of biculturalism and mana ōrite mō te mātauranga Māori - equal status for mātauranga Māori across the school.

Additionally we have a Pou Whirinaki (Marcus Matamua) who provides holistic and academic support to our rakatahi Māori and Pasifika. We also have a teacher in charge of kapa haka and dedicated kapa haka tutors.

We also have our Māori and Pasifika Student Council who meet regularly to discuss the successes, concerns, needs and wants of Māori and Pasifika students. Students from this rōpū have led the organisation and planning of a number of events at school, have helped us to analyse our data for Māori & Pasifika achievement, and have played a leading role in some professional development activities for staff. They also promote the use of te reo and tikanga Māori through activities such as weekly karakia. 

At any point in time, whānau are more than welcome to request minutes from recent whānau hui via Matua Ryan Gilbertson and we always advertise these well in advance via the newsletter.