Te Whare Kounga

About Te Whare Kounga

Te Whare Kounga is a planned new composite charter school in Wairoa.

The curriculum will be hands-on and deeply local. Students may explore science through things like water quality testing, maths through food production data, or literacy through Māori storytelling. Students will work towards NCEA. Non NCEA subjects will be taught in mixed-age groups. 

Key information

  • Language of instruction: Te Reo Māori
  • Curriculum: New Zealand
  • Qualification: NCEA
  • Expected open date: Term 3, 2026
  • Sponsor: Te Papatipu Matihiko 

Key links

Rolls 

We will publish Te Whare Kounga 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 Whare Kounga, falls in the more EQI group.

Te Whare Kounga will be 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.

Read more about performance thresholds