Mata Nui O Kahungunu comprises learners from the far reaches of our awa in Waikaremoana to the beaches of Mohaka and Te Mahia, embracing akonga from rural and urban Wairoa on its pathway.

Approximately 83% of our akonga identify as Maori, who whakapapa to Ngāti Kahungunu O Te Wairoa, Ngāti Rongomaiwahine, Ngati Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Pāuhauwera, Tuhoe, and Ruapani ki Waikaremoana.

Our Primary and Secondary learning community has a long history of working collaboratively for the betterment of akonga. Mata Nui O Kahungunu has given us the opportunity to extend these existing relationships to include Early Childhood Educators and potentially other educational institutions, and also to reach further into our wider community for the expertise and knowledge they bring to helping us achieve our vision. In becoming part of a Kahui Ako we acknowledged the potential for the collaborative power of our community to make a difference for our learners, more so than we can do on our own.

At the same time, we celebrate and respect the diversity that exists across our Early Childhood centres, schools and Kura and will continue to be mindful of the importance of maintaining this.