Our History

Mai Maketū ki Tongariro...

Ko Te Arawa te waka

Ko Te Arawa māngai-nui ūpoko tū-takitaki

From Maketu to Tongariro...

Te Arawa the waka

Te Arawa, the great orators and storytellers

Te Arawa, the resolute, the determined and undaunted 

 

Maketū is steeped in Te Arawa history. It is one of the most historic land marks in the Bay of Plenty, with it being the landing site of the Te Arawa waka. Today Maketū is home to many of the descendants of the original voyagers who arrived here more than 600 years ago. Many of them whakapapa to the local marae Tapiti, the whare tupuna, Whakaue Kaipapa and the wharekai, Rangiuru. 

A memorial marks the commemorated site of the final landing place of the Te Arawa waka after it’s long voyage from Hawaiki, the homeland of Māori. 

 

Maketū School opened almost 151 years ago in November 19, 1866, it was then called the Maketū Native School. Many of the same Maketū families have attended the school over the years. The school has produced an array of well-known New Zealanders in its time, including Sir Charles Bennett, Sir Peter Tapsell and Maketū sisters Kasey and Karena Bird who won NZ MasterChef in 2014. 

 

The school caters for students in Years 1 to 6. Nearly all of the 33 students identify as Māori. The values of rangatiratanga, manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga encourage tamariki to be confident, engaged life-long learners. The school is a member of the Te Puke Community of LearningI, Kāhui Ako, and its students demonstrate improved engagement and confidence in their learning environments.