2024-2025 Strategic Plan
Te Whenua - Our Place
Kua hōhonu ki te whenua ngā pakiaka o te rākau e kore e taea te huhuti
The roots of the tree are deep into the ground and cannot be pulled out
In 2016 the Oakura School’s 150th Jubilee (1866-2016) was held, celebrating 150 years of education in Oakura. Oakura School started in 1866, operating out of a private residence, until in 1880 the first school buildings were built on the current site. In those early years there were two nearby schools, Koru and Kirihau. Koru School was established in 1880 and Kirihau School in 1924. Both schools existed to support families of the local timber mill workers and local farmers. As these mills closed, Kirihau School amalgamated with Koru School in 1934, with seven students transferring. Then in 1939 the twenty students at Koru School joined with Oakura School.
Today Oakura School is a vibrant well-resourced school situated 12 km from New Plymouth city in the popular beach location of Oakura. It is a full-primary (5-13yr olds) with approximately 380 pupils spread across fifteen classrooms. The majority of the children live in Oakura Village with a few children travelling from rural areas by bus.
School programmes are closely related to the environment and local places of significance. The peak of Taranaki Maunga is visible from our school grounds, with our school situated at the base of the Kaitake Ranges. Our local marae is the Okorotua Marae at Oakura Pa and our hapū is Ngāti Tairi. Our river is the Oakura Matapu River and the Matekai Stream borders our school property. We have four school houses: Patuhā, Koru, Wairau and Matekai – all named after places of significance in our community. These narratives and names were gifted to us from Ngāti Tairi. They are all places and/or tupuna of significance in our rohe (area). Our team names acknowledge the significance of wai - awa or manga (rivers or streams) that flow into Oakura Matapu, reflecting the journey of a learner at Oakura School. They are the Momona te Whānau - Yr 1-3, Kiri te Whānau - Yr 4-6, and the Wakamure te Whānau, Yr 7/8. Each class is also named after a rakau (tree) that is endemic to Taranaki and found on our school grounds.
Our pupils proudly take part in many environmental projects within our community. For example: Te Ara Taiao, kiwi releases on the Kaitake Ranges, beach clean-up day, spinifex planting on the beach, planting in native bush areas, stream monitoring, planting and nurturing native plants in our plant propagation unit and Enviro Centre and taking part in inquiries supported by local environmental groups.
Our students have an active lifestyle. Many students are fully involved in skiing and water sports, such as surf life saving, body boarding and surfing. Most of the children are members of the Oakura Junior Sports Club. This club offers a wide range of sports including cricket, soccer, netball, hockey, basketball, mini-ball and tennis. Oakura School plays a significant role in providing a social meeting place and community facilities such as the School/Community Library, the Oakura Junior Sports Club and the tennis courts.
Our Vision
Kia ākona te manako me te manaaki
Oakura School students
learn to think
and learn to care,
in a learning community which prepares them
for a successful future.
Our Values
We encourage and model the values, principles and intent of the New Zealand Curriculum with special emphasis on:
Pono - Honesty
Be truthful, responsible and accountable for our actions
Whakaaro pai - Respect
Value ourselves, other people and the environment
Manawanui - Perseverance
Aim high, take risks and persevere in the face of challenges
These are the values that will underpin all our programmes. They are all about learning to make the best choices in any situation. With the support of the home we aim to develop future citizens who will make positive contributions to society.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Māori Achieving Success as Māori at Oakura School
Hōkai Nuku, Hōkai Rangi
E tū ana te reo me hōna tikanga hei pou o te mātauranga mo ngā tamariki Māori. Kei te mōhio te tamaiti ko wai ia, ā, kei te tū kaha ia ki roto i tōna tuakiri, ā-tinana, ā-whanaungangatanga, ā hinengaro, ā-wairua. He ngākau titikaha, he pūkenga hoki hōna i roto i te ao Māori, ā, kei te whakakahatia ia ki te mahi whakarauora i te reo me hōna tikanga.
Te reo me hōna tikanga are at the heart of education for tamariki Māori. Tamariki Māori know who they are and are secure in their identity; physically, socially, mentally and spiritually. They are confident and capable within te ao Māori and are empowered to revitalise te reo me hōna tikanga.
Kia tupu ai hēnei kākano hei rākau nui
May these tender seedlings grow into mighty trees
Our Māori Achieving Success as Māori definition, as developed in partnership with whānau, ensures that learning cannot be left to chance and that all staff have clear expectations and guidelines of the aspirations of whānau for their tamariki. ‘Hōkai Nuku, Hōkai Rangi’ is integrated into all curriculum areas of the NZC through targeted teaching and integrated planning. Our local curriculum leverages off place-based learning and links to mana whenua, Ngāti Tairi.
The engagement and achievement of ākonga Māori will be monitored closely and trends within identified cultural groups will be analysed and changes made to teaching and learning programmes to reflect identified needs and whānau aspirations.
In 2024, the three goals we have set are aimed to improve the wellbeing, engagement, education and achievement of ākonga Māori and other priority learners.
2024 - 2025 Strategic Plan
2024-2025 Strategic Goals
Are aligned to the Education and Training Act 2020:
In line with the Tomorrow School’s recommendations, clause 127 of the Education and Training Act refocuses
Boards on a wider range of objectives, with educational achievement sitting alongside three other, equally as
important, primary objectives.
These are for schools to ensure that:
1. Every student is able to attain their highest possible standard in educational achievement;
2. The school is a physically and emotionally safe place for all students and staff, and gives effect to
relevant student rights and takes all reasonable steps to eliminate racism, stigma, bullying, and any
other forms of discrimination within the school;
3. The school is inclusive and caters for students with differing needs;
4. The school gives effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi by:
a. Working to ensure that its plans, policies, and local curriculum reflect local tikanga Māori,
mātauranga Māori and te ao Māori.
b. Taking all reasonable steps to make instruction available
And the National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP):
The New Zealand Government is committed to continually building and developing a world class education. The National Education Learning Priorities (NELPS) set out the priorities and objectives of achieving change across our system, reflective of a culturally rich and diverse Aotearoa. At the heart of the NELP sit three core components: wellbeing, equity and inclusion.
The NELPS outline 5 key objectives to achieve change across our system, which embody wellbeing, equity and inclusion:
Learners at the Centre - Learners with their whānau are at the centre of education
Barrier Free Access - Great education opportunities and outcomes are within reach for every learner
Quality Teaching and Leadership - Quality teaching and leadership make the difference for learners and their whānau
Future of Learning and Work - Learning is relevant to the lives of New Zealanders today and throughout their lives
World Class Inclusive Public Education - New Zealand Education is trusted and sustainable.
At Oakura School, we exemplify and value these five objectives, which are implicit throughout our Vision, Values, Learner Profile and Annual Plans. The Vision of the NELPS Whakamua te pae tata kia tina – Take hold of your potential till it becomes a reality, reflects Oakura School’s Learner Profile whakatauki of Kia tupu ai ēnei kākano hei rakau nui - May these tender seedlings grow into mighty trees. Both encourage and support ākonga to do the best they can and strive to reach their goals.
