Te Kura Awhitu

About Te Kura Awhitu

Te Kura Awhitu is an iwi-led co-educational charter school in the Bay of Plenty.

The kura’s curriculum is grounded in Te Kawa o Te Urewera, the philosophy and guiding principles for the management of Te Urewera. Te Kawa focuses on fostering a closer connection between people and Te Urewera, rather than just managing the land itself.

NCEA achievement standards will be integrated into kaupapa-based learning, with clear connections between natural science learning on the whenua and achievement standards in biology, environmental studies or agriculture.

Key information

Language of instruction: Te reo Māori
Curriculum: New Zealand
Qualification: NCEA
Open date: Term 1 2026
Sponsor: Tūhoe Charitable Trust

Key links

School website: To be confirmed
School social media: To be confirmed
Education Counts listing: Te Kura Awhitu: Profile and Contact Details | Education Counts

Reporting

Te Kura Awhitu Annual public report is due to be published by 31 May 2027 either on its website or in a local newspaper.

Rolls

We will publish Te Kura Awhitu roll once it has been open a year.

Learn more about rolls at charter schools

Performance thresholds and monitoring

All schools including charter schools are assigned an Equity Index number (EQI). This EQI determines the performance thresholds that charter schools are contracted to meet.

Learn more about the EQI

In 2026 Te Kura Awhitu, falls in the more EQI group.

Te Kura Awhitu is assessed against the following annual measures:

Measure	Performance threshold
Regular attendance	35%
Student achievement (Years 3-10) - reading	30%
Student achievement (Years 3-10) - writing and maths	25%
Student achievement (Years 11-13)	65%

Achievement measures are the percentage of students achieving at or above the expected curriculum level.

A school’s first year is its baseline year. Schools are monitored against this baseline and their minimum performance thresholds. The Authorisation Board can step in if they are not meeting these thresholds.

Schools are expected not only to meet the minimum requirements but to keep improving and work towards the government’s overall education targets.