Celebrating our Cultural Heritage

Kaupapa Māori is integrated into many aspects of learning at Napier Girls’ High School. A pōwhiri welcomes Year 9 students and new learning staff, hui are held with parents and whānau and the school boasts a strong kapa haka.

Māori student leadership is actively supported. A Manu Taki is a prefect role of Māori leadership. She is supported by the kāhui Māori, a group of Year 12 and 13 students who are elected by the school. The senior Māori students are trained as mentors for juniors, the guiding philosophy being the ‘tuakana teina” (big sister, little sister) relationship. Māori are also well represented in form captain positions. Through active participation, a sense of pride and belonging has been fostered among Māori students, and this is reflected in academic results. Our overall achievement of Māori and Pacific Island students exceeds national averages.

Ngā mihi nui ki a
koutou ngā kaipānui

Nau mai haere mai

Ko te manu e kai ana i
te miro, nōna te ngāhere

Ko te manu e kai ana i te
mātauranga, nōna te ao.

The bird who feeds
on the miro berries - her
domain is the forest.

The bird who feeds
on knowledge - the
world is hers

About Māori Achieve

Māori Achieve is a programme that works towards increasing the achievement of Māori students across all areas of the school.   Aspects of the programme include:

• Mentoring of Māori students:  This programme involves using mentors from the staff and senior Māori students trained as mentors for Junior Māori students.   The guiding philosophy is on the ‘tuakana teina’ (big sister, little sister) relationship.
• Developing Māori Student Leadership:  The school has a Manu Taki who is the prefect with the role of Māori leadership.   She is supported by the Kahui Māori, a group of Year 12 and Year 13 Māori students who are elected to this role by the school.
• Careers work with Māori students: Specialised workshops are offered to Māori students at all levels of the school.
• Professional Development for staff: Areas of focus have been on powhiri, Māori art forms and on integrating kaupapa Māori into learning.
• Gathering data: Data is collected every year so that the school can report on issues such as Māori student retention and Māori student achievement.
• Whole school development: This is a continual development of Māori aspects of the school. A pōwhiri to welcome Year 9 and new teachers into the school at the beginning of each new year and the development of a school haka are recent additions.
• Community relationships: Three hui with parents and whānau are planned per year, designed for looking at ways to move forward together.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Please contact Deputy Principal Philipp Otto regarding Māori Achieve