Mark Ellison, Te Kura o Hirangi caretaker, with a plaque acknowledging the role the community work offenders have played in the school’s revamp.
Two years of hard work by community work offenders has helped transform a newly-established kura kaupapa Maori in Turangi, blending tradition with modern construction.
Te Kura o Hirangi was established after an intensive Ministry of Education review, which resulted in the closure of four schools and the opening of two new ones in their place.
As a result, Te Kura o Hirangi – which now has over 220 students from Years 1-13 – needed to establish its own identity.
To achieve this it was decided to relocate the buildings that made up the old Hirangi Primary School to better reflect the special character of the new kura.
The relocation of buildings was designed to not only help with the flow of learning and create a better environment for the children to learn positively, but also to reflect Maori heroes such as Ngatoroirangi, from whom the Ngati Tuwharetoa people descended.
“The building configuration now loosely resembles a koru, with the five year olds at one end of the site, the 8-12 year olds in the middle and the older students at the other end,” says Tumuaki Henarata Ham.
“The kura links directly to the neighbouring Hirangi Marae.”
While relocating every building on the site has better met the needs of the kura, the new layout came at a cost. Much of the site was severely damaged by vehicles and equipment having to work in extremely wet conditions.
Every weekend and some school holidays since winter 2005, groups of offenders on community work, under CPPS supervisor Mark Porter, have worked hard to help get the kura into its current state. Groups of up to ten have worked at the kura, tackling such tasks as landscaping, concreting, paving, building pathways and gardens, clearing and relocating trees and shrubs, and building stone and rock barriers.
“The relationship between us and CPPS is mutually respectful. We have been involved with work gangs for a long time and are grateful for the support we receive from them,” says Henarata.
“The reactions from pupils, parents and visitors have all been positive.”
Senior community work supervisor David Joll has been involved with the school relocation since day one, and he says the offenders have loved being a part of the project.
“The offenders feel gratified in seeing a final product that they have helped to produce. Some have taken their kids to the school and others even have children that attend the kura.”
The latest project continues a long-term relationship between CPPS and the school which began some 25 years ago when the old Hirangi Primary School approached them to help out with odd jobs and projects.
In the years since, countless work parties of offenders have helped on the school property. Te Kura o Hirangi looks forward to continuing its relationship with CPPS.
Te Kura o Hirangi has been transformed by offenders, who have helped beautify the school through landscaping, concreting and many other projects.