Our History
Ko Tātou Tēnei ...Te Kura o Tāneatua as it stands today came about through the amalgamation of two small schools known as Opouriao North and Opouriao South Schools.
On the 10th May 1897 the first school was completed and named Opouriao South School, located halfway down Reid’s Road toward Ruatoki. In August 1897 Opouriao North School was built on Tāneatua School’s current site. Opouriao North School was renamed as Tāneatua School in 1920 to reflect the renaming of the town. In 1951, Opouriao South School was burnt down through unknown causes. As a result of a successful six month trial both schools were amalgamated to create the one school, Tāneatua School. The original Tāneatua School’s three-roomed structure is still in use today. At its peak in the 1960s, Tāneatua School had a roll of over 450 tamariki. Originally both schools were set up to cater for the needs of the settler population of the Opouriao District. At our centenary in 1997, the roll had changed to be over 90% Māori students. Today the make-up of our school has changed significantly with 100% Māori, all of whom whakapapa to Ngāi Tūhoe. Te Kura o Tāneatua has evolved over the last ten years, leadership has changed, teaching staff have moved on, and community demographics have shifted to reflect our largely Māori population. The school motto has also evolved over the years … Truth Our Guide > Pono te tika - Truth our Guide > We Know Where We Are Going ... To today’s motto: Tāneatua, He Ariki, He Tohunga, He Tangata, He Uruuru Whenua. This whakatauki expresses the drive within our Board, our Staff, and our community to re-establish and revitalise Te Reo me ōna tikanga at Te Kura ō Tāneatua. This drive is also reflected in our beautiful taonga. Our taonga visually represents those things, which are at the centre of our kura and incorporates both Tāneatuatanga and Tūhoetanga. It depicts the interaction our tamariki have with our whēnua, our awa, our maunga, our ancestors, and our communities around us. Through the interaction of our motto and our taonga we reinforce and celebrate what is unique to our kura and community. |
Our Tāonga Kōrero ...
Our tāonga visually represents those things which are at the centre of learning at Tāneatua School, and incorporates Tāneatuatanga and Tūhoetanga.
The Parihau are the wings that enfold and protect our tamariki which urging them to fly to lofty heights in their endeavours. The notches on the left Parihau represent our Kaumatua - those on whom we base our values and who have provided us with the foundation to achieve in both Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Pakeha. The gaps within the arms of the stylised 'T' represent nga tamariki - those who are at Te Kura o Tāneatua, those who have passed through the kura and those yet to come. The two arms of the stylised 'T' represent the two rivers which cradle our Kura. These arms can be seen to represent those hapū from which our tamariki originate. The left arm is Tāuranga, the awa of the tamariki of ngā hapū o Te Waimana Kaaku. The right arm represents Ohinemataroa and encompasses those tamariki from ngā hapu o Te Whārua o Ruatoki. The upper right hand point enclosed by Ohinemataroa represents Puketi Maunga; the traditional guardian Pā of Ngai Tūhoe. The lower point on the left represents Otarahioi Maunga, the traditional Pā of our tīpuna Tāneatua. Thus Ohinemataroa, Tauranga, Puketi, and Otarahioi surround and support our Kura both physically and spiritually. Na Maaka Te Moana |
Click the image to enlarge.
Our school logo gifted to our kura by master carver Maaka Te Moana. |