Our Hubs and Classes
Junior School – Years 0 – 2
Taumata Team
- Taumata 3 – Transition class
- Taumata 9 – Year 1 class
- Taumata 4 and Taumata 6 – Year 2 class
- Team Lead – Dana Haimona
In Taumata, our junior team is focused on setting learners up for success right from the start. We place a strong emphasis on building solid foundations in reading, writing, and maths, with a particular focus on structured literacy to support every child’s learning journey.
Relationships are at the heart of our approach. Our juniors are buddied up with older learners from the Kaiweka Team (Years 5–6), creating tuakana-teina relationships that help our youngest students feel safe, supported, and connected across the school. These bonds foster a sense of whānau and provide our juniors with a trusted older role model to look up to.
Middle School – Years 3 – 4
Ngongotahā Team
- Ngongotahā 11 – Year 3 class
- Ngongotahā 14 – Year 3-4 class
- Team Lead – Sam Gillard
Our Ngongotahā Team (Middle School) is made up of composite classes, typically combining two-year levels, and is guided by the New Zealand Curriculum Achievement levels. We are committed to creating a happy, safe, and inclusive environment where every learner can thrive.
When placing students into class groups, we carefully consider their intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development to ensure balanced and supportive learning communities. All classes are non-streamed, and we keep class sizes as low as possible to support individualised attention and strong teacher-student relationships.
Camps begin at this level, starting with a day trip experience and an overnight stay for our Year 4 students – a great way to build confidence, independence, and whanaungatanga (a sense of belonging).
Senior School – Years 5 – 6
Kaiweka Team
- Kaiweka 15 – Year 5-6 Class
- Kaiweka 16 – Year 5-6 Class
- Kaiweka 17 -Year 4 Class
- Team Lead – Sam Gillard
Our Kaiweka Team (Senior School) focuses on developing confident, capable learners who are socially, emotionally, and academically prepared for the transition to intermediate.
Leadership is a key focus, with Year 6 students stepping into roles such as Road Patrol, Head Boy and Head Girl, and other responsibilities that promote confidence, teamwork, and a strong sense of pride in our school. Camps are a highlight of the senior years, with each year group participating in unique experiences that build independence, resilience, and friendships.
Sport and Waiata are woven into the culture of the Kaiweka Team, helping to foster team spirit, connection, and a strong sense of identity.
We use a one-to-one device programme to support learning across the curriculum. Digital tools are used thoughtfully alongside paper-based learning to ensure our students are confident and capable in both environments. This balanced approach equips them with the adaptability and skills needed for intermediate and beyond.
Bilingual Māori Medium – Years 3 – 6
Angitu Team
- Angitu 8 – Year 3-4 Bilingual Class
- Angitu 7 – Year 5-6 Bilingual Class
- Team Lead – Kiri Nikora
Our bilingual classes are named Angitu – meaning Successful. Through collaboration and manaakitanga, we create an environment where every child can grow strong and confident, connected to both language and culture. To be successful in the world.
What is our aim?
Kia tū pakari ngā tauira i roto i te reo Māori me ōna tikanga. To use te reo Māori and tikanga with confidence and pride at school, at home with whānau and in the community.
Kia tū pakari ngā tauira i ngā ao e rua, te ao Māori me te ao Pākeha. To stand confidently as a learner in both worlds of bicultural Aotearoa.
At KPS, we nurture tamariki to be strong (kia Kaha), to be brave (kia maia), to be kind (kia manawanui) and to be successful (kia angitu). Our unique programmes include bilingual Māori Medium education, focusing on strengthening Māori language skills and revitalising Te Reo Māori.
We aim for tamariki to thrive in both the Māori and English worlds, with strong cultural identity and self-esteem. By embracing Te Reo, tikanga, and Te Ao Māori, we help tamariki and whānau stand proud in who they are, both individually and as part of the community.
What does the Bilingual Māori Immersion programme look like?
Our Bilingual Māori immersion class integrates Te Reo Māori and English in a balanced way, with a focus on developing proficiency in both languages.
Our programme follows the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) while incorporating Māori language, tikanga Māori, Te Ao Māori, culture, and history.
We believe children need strong skills in both languages to succeed in future education and careers. We focus on building oral skills in Te Reo Māori while strengthening literacy and numeracy in their first language (English). The research shows that the learning of a 2nd language supports students to become more competent in both languages.
Other features of the programme
- Strong Values based approach – Manaakitanga/Whanaungatanga/Kaitiakitanga/Ako.
- Kapa haka, Māori arts, and traditional storytelling.
- A sound knowledge of the heritage of Aotearoa, and the significance of our local area.
- Stronger ties with local iwi and marae, including events e.g. Ahurei.
- Kaupapa (study themes) connecting to a Te Ao Māori context and world view.
- Smaller class size which allows more personalised support and attention to each student.
- Classes are led by kaiako and specialist kāiarahi i te reo who are fluent in te reo Māori, ensuring high-quality teaching and culturally responsive pedagogy.
- Tuakana-teina learning and collaborative teaching.
- Māori medium pathways to Year 7 and beyond at our local schools.
How does the class work?
Students will be in a class group (either Year 3-4 or Year 5-6) with a bilingual kaiako, but also still part of a larger learning community with English medium classes. Our bilingual programme values strong relationships between students, whānau, and their kaiako, while also building connections with other teachers.
