Kura Kaupapa Māori are Māori-language immersion schools (kura) where the philosophy and practice reflect Māori cultural values with the aim of revitalising Māori language, knowledge and culture - Maori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The existing site is situated between Kitchener and Black Streets, and is located in Wairoa in a remote area on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island.
This Kura creates a fresh new centre of modern learning that looks to the future, while maintaining strong links with the past, and reflects Wairoa’s unique culture, history and landscape. The new building provides advanced ‘modern learning environments’ (50-60 pupils per classroom in open plan learning spaces) with a variety of well-connected learning spaces through the use of new building materials & technologies. Provides flexible teaching spaces to allow for a variety of teaching pedagogical practice, and specialist teaching spaces with technology & equipment suitable for a multitude of subjects & disciplines, provides spaces which can be utilised by both the school and the community alike.
Extensive overhangs provide shaded outdoor teaching spaces defined by a perimeter of timber fins referencing the edge of the ancient forest that the Maori respected for shelter, food and building materials. These fins define the edge of the sheltering wings of the building and facilitate teaching and socialising spaces for work and play.
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