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The latest University Entrance results as published by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority show a Northland charter school (with a 100% Maori roll) ranks in the top two in the region.

Te Kapehu Whetu – Terenga Paraoa is outperforming most other private and public schools in Northland in UE success and is well above the New Zealand average for UE pass rates.

It’s abundantly clear that charter schools work for Maori students. This school’s 2017 University Entrance results are the second highest in Northland and well above the New Zealand average.

E Tipu e Rea Chief Executive Graeme Osborne says ‘how can anyone believe that closing the second best high school for University Entrance in Northland is in the best interests of student success and wellbeing. This charter school’s University Entrance results are well above the New Zealand average and show that the school is working for its 100% Maori students. It’s abundantly clear that charter schools work for Maori students. This school’s 2017 University Entrance results are the second highest in Northland and well above the New Zealand average. Why shouldn’t younger Maori students be given the same opportunity to achieve at this school?”

The graph below shows the top five Northland schools, ranked by 2017 UE success.

Originally featured in Scoop, Monday, 30 April 2018, 1:10 pm

Photo: Te Kapehu Whetu perform at Te Tai Tokerau Festival 2018. Photo / Elisa Kawiti

Northland schoolgirl Hadassah Wharawhara was one of 12 young people selected to be a member of the new Ministry of Education Youth Advisory Group.

The group has been set up to enable young people to have their say and have more input on the education system and issues that affect them.

Topics the ministry expected the group to cover included the future of work, student well-being, education, mental health, perspectives on technology and the use of digital tools in learning and assessment.

The group will meet quarterly, in the third week of every term at the Ministry of Education in Wellington.

Hadassah is in Year 12 at Te Kāpehu Whetū partnership school in Whangarei.

“It’s really important for youth to have a say, a lot of the policies that are being created affect us firsthand so having a youth voice is key.”

She said her school had been very supportive, and she was excited to make a meaningful contribution.

“I’m the only student from the far North.

“I’m just doing this on behalf of my school and for Northland, and it’d be great for more Northland kids that want to do this, and proving that they can do it and anything else is possible.

“It’s really important for youth to have a say, a lot of the policies that are being created affect us firsthand so having a youth voice is key.”

Minister of Education Chris Hipkins said he will attend the orientation and the group meetings where possible.

When he couldn’t attend he said he would Skype in on the meeting.

An experienced youth facilitator selected by Ministry of Education officials will be present at each meeting.

Mr Hipkins expected the group to offer fresh perspectives and valuable insights about education.

“I want our young people to have a say in the way our education system works and the Youth Advisory Group provides an exciting opportunity for young New Zealanders to get involved in the decision-making.

“I am looking forward to working with this inspiring group of young people, hearing about their experiences of our education system, and how they think we can improve it.”

Insights from this group will be shared with the Ministry of Education and other education sector agencies.

Originally featured in the Northern Advocate, Monday, 23 November, 2017
by Charlotte Carter

Photo: Te Kapehu Whetu Partnership School student Hadassah Wharawhara has been selected for a Youth Advisory Group with the Ministry Of Education. Photo / John Stone

Te Kapehu Whetu and Whangarei have welcomed the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians to Northland ahead of their clash with the British and Irish Lions.

The charter school performed a beautiful waiata and a rousing haka to the Barbarians side, with Whangarei Mayor Sheryl Mai welcoming them to town.

Barbarians and Northland loose forward Matt Matich said he had never experienced a welcoming quite like it.

“The first part of it was really quite intense, almost intimidating. There was a lot of passion showing and some beautiful voices in there,” he said.

“I don’t know if I’ve had a powhiri this powerful before, there was so much of energy behind it. The boys definitely enjoyed it.”

We have a helluva lot of young players wanting to become Super players who will announce themselves to the world on Saturday

Roger Randle

The Barbarians squad were training earlier in the day at Marist RFC Park in what was their third day together as a squad.

Matich said the squad is in great spirits ahead of the enormous fixture.

“We’re feeling pretty positive. Obviously we’ve identified the Lions have a strong scrum, but we’re definitely not going in like we are going to lose in that area,” he said.

“We’re trying to figure out how we can win the scrum. There’s a whole lot of positivity and that’s what we need if we want to go in and win this one.

“No one goes out there to lose obviously.

“As an individual it’s a huge opportunity especially for us guys who aren’t fully contracted.

“We’re just on three month contracts so it’s a huge opportunity to get exposure in New Zealand and overseas.”

Barbarians assistant coach Roger Randle concurred with Matich, saying they aren’t going into the match to make up numbers.

“We’re New Zealand rugby players, every New Zealand team has that winning mentality built in,” he said.

“We’re not going out there to come off second best but we’re well aware of the challenges we face with the calibre of players that are coming.

“We’ve got a great bunch of guys in our group. We have a couple of experienced guys who have been at the Super level and we have a helluva lot of young players wanting to become Super players who will announce themselves to the world on Saturday.”

Randle said the excitement was bubbling within the unit and they were wary of overplaying their hand.

“We’re just trying to throw a simple plan together, trying to not complicate things.

“There are challenges with not spending a heap of time together but we knew that going in so it’s not really something we’ve spoken about other than when we first came together.

“We’ll just try to keep things simple but throw in a bit innovation.

“It’s been a long time coming; we’ve been in preparation for months as a group.

“We’re massively excited.”

Originally featured in the Northern Advocate, Monday, 29 May, 2017
by Andrew Johnsen

Photo: Te Kapehu Whetu students perform an intimidating haka to welcome the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians to Whangarei. Photo/John Stone