left to right: Scott Evans (Head of Property Delivery, Ministry of Education), Vanya George (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kuia), Michelle Lavender (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua), Dr Peter Meihana (Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau), Johnny Joseph (Ngāti Toa Rangatira), Sam Fowler (GM Capital Works, Ministry of Education)

Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Rārua and Ngāti Toa Rangatira have been working with the Ministry of Education and Bohally Intermediate School, Marlborough Boys’ College and Marlborough Girls’ College to create opportunities for whānau to be directly involved in Te Tātoru o Wairau, previously known as the Marlborough Schools Project.

The project is to relocate and rebuild three local schools and is now known as Te Tātoru o Wairau.

Dr Melanie Riwai-Couch.

Keynote speaker, Dr Melanie Riwai-Couch proved a hit with those gathered at Omaka Marae in June, sharing her personal and professional experiences and knowledge.

She shared a story of how her father remained busy in his later years and even made a television cabinet from a bunk bed through his penchant for repurposing.

This story inspired a student present to suggest that as a Māori student he is a metaphorical bunk bed and the education system is trying to turn him into a television cabinet. His desire however is to remain a bunk bed!

Interested in helping? Get in touch

Te Tātoru o Wairau is an excellent opportunity to work together to realise the aspirations and goals our whānau have for the education of our rangatahi.

So if you want to be part of a project that enables our rangatahi to be a bunk bed, please contact us at admin@ngatirarua.iwi.nz

Further reading

Iwi gift name to school relocation project (stuff.co.nz)