While many choose to bus out of Māngere for their education, a trip down Buckland Road will bring you to one of New Zealand’s top performing schools.
All year 11, 12 and 13 students at Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae passed their NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3 last year - giving it the highest rate of any state school in Aotearoa. In comparison, only 60 per cent of year 11 students in New Zealand passed Level 1, while in Auckland, just 54 per cent of year 11s passed Level 1.
Deputy principal Harley Emery says it comes down to the holistic approach the school takes to learning, as well as having a strong connection to the community.
“You know everyone here, kids included, are very proud Māngere people,” she says.
“I've lived here all my life, grew up, went to school here. All our teachers did, all our kids do too.”
Emery adds that over 95 per cent of the staff also went to the school as students, which helps create a strong culture.
“We've all been through the same teaching, the same expectations, the same rules, and we turned out okay.
“And I think that's a point of difference for our kura.”
Aside from academic success, the school also makes sure the students get the same extra-currciular opportunities that you might see at other wealthier schools. In recent years students have been able to travel to Dunedin, Nelson, the United States as well as have the chance to learn things like scuba-diving and sailing. And last year two pupils signed with the NRL’s Sydney Roosers, while another won the New Zealand golf nationals.
Emery says it’s all about having high expectations and putting the right support around their young people and their whānau.
“Money is never a reason that students shouldn't be able to participate in anything ever.
“But there's always that responsibility that you've got to work.
“And I think a huge part of the success here is that they know that they're loved.
“Families have been here for four generations, so it is like another home.”
