Our Place
As you enter our school, you will find two significant structures and a beautiful piece of art.
Pāwaha "Te Au O Waikato"
At the main entrance to our school you will find a large structure called a Pāwaha. This pāwaha shares the deep narrative of our school and our special connection with Ngāti Wairere.
Please click on the image below for the deeper story of all the elements of our pāwaha.
A Pāwaha (Pā = marae / waha = mouth) is to speak of the stories of that marae. Our pāwaha is based on the concept of a waka pou maumahara, an old practice of decommissioning a waka (canoe) and standing it upright in memory of a person or event.
The Pāwaha provides the gateway in and out of the school, and where hospitality begins. When you pass through this gateway you are moving from a state of Te Pō (darkness, unknowing) into Te Ao Mārama (enlightenment and understanding).
Waharoa "Tūrangawaewae"
The waharoa (gateway) depicts the origin of our school name “Te Ao Mārama” - the world of light and understanding.
Te Ao Mārama was created when Tāne Mahuta (Māori god of the forest and birds) separated his Sky Father Ranginui and Earth Mother Papatūānuku to create a world of light and life.
The waharoa also includes the 9 stars of Matariki, and mokomoko (lizard) which are considered kaitiaki (guardians) by Ngāti Wairere.
Some of the design work also relates to our school whakatauki (proverb) Whiria te tāngata (Weave the people together).
Mural
At the main entrance to our school, you will find this beautiful mural. It was completed in 2023 by artists Charles and Janine Williams.
The mural is a depiction of our school name "Te Ao Mārama", which is a Māori concept relating to wisdom and understanding, and the natural world of life and light.
Ki te whaiao, ki Te Ao Mārama
Tihei mauri ora
The breath, the energy of life
To the dawnlight, to the world of light