Te Hītori

History of Maungatapu

Maungatapu Primary is a School that has a rich and valued history. Over 130 years old, Maungatapu School has seen and experienced many changes in how our world and society function. It has grown with the change and still holds many of the founding principles within the culture of the school.

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1881	4 July 1881 – Date of Establishment at Anglican Church on Te Hono Street. Opening Roll was 26. Mr JW Dufus was Headmaster.
1881	Local Maori Ngati He, offered 2 acres of land for a school site to Education Department. A classroom and teacher ‘s residence was built and the site was known as “Mara o Tatahu” on the north east side of the Maungatapu Peninsula.
1882	Construction began. Completed January 1883.
1884	Cpt Morgan was Headmaster helped by his wife. He established a side school in an old church at Ngapeke. Mrs Morgan continued at Maungatapu.
1888	8 pupils at Maungatapu, 31 at Ngapeke.
1889	Mr Griffin was Headmaster and in April Maungatpau was clased as all tamariki went to Ngapeke.
1890	Re-opened with 17 pupils
1895	Tribal migration and low numbers caused the closure of Maungatapu Native School.
1898	Maungatapu School House moved to Papamoa.
1908	Petition for re-establishment of Maungatapu Native School. A new site was gifted of 3 acres at present site of school.
1913	School completed and open with Head Teacher Miss Baker assisted by Miss Geissler.
1914	Miss Baker resigned and Mr Roach became new Head Teacher in October. Roll 82.
1922	Roll 65, of which 25 are pakeha.
1937	Roll numbers saw a new detached open air classroom built, which is the current Puwhariki Unit.
1949	Tennis courts and driveway were tarsealed.
1953	Roll 116 pupils.
1956	Additional 2 acres acquired for play area.
1962	Maungatapu Maori School Disestablished. A new public school under the control of the South Auckland Education Board. Roll 126 pupils.
1965	New Classrooms built and new admin block which is part of Rangiatea. Renovations to original classrooms.
1968	Construction of swimming pool.
1969	Two new classrooms.
1974	Two new classrooms. Roll 400 pupils.
1976	Library set up and two relocatable classrooms were added. Roll 512 pupils.
1979	Welcome Bay School Opened. 170 pupils left Maungatapu which relieved the pressure which had peaked in 1977 with 575 pupils.
1982	School roll 330 pupils.
1984	Te Kohanga Reo discussed provision for Kohanga reo children.
1987	Local Maori visit school to discuss provision for children in the Máori language and culture. Class opened to focus on promotion Te Reo and Máori Culture.
1988	Unit received official Bi-Lingual status.
1989	Election of first Board of Trustees.
1990	School Carpark complete.
1995	New playground constructed at front of school.
1998	New school and community hall and new administration block.
1999	New classroom.
2000	New classroom.
2001	Library becomes a classroom.
2002	Mel Donovan retired with Sue Horne appointed as new Principal of school.
2002	New Library
2004	A two classroom block relocated in school to build Whare Toi.
2005	Rangiatea completed, attached to Old Admin block
2006	Pūwhāriki classrooms renovated to have 3 classrooms and changing of toilets and book room.
2006	125 year anniversary celebrated by school and community on school grounds.
2007	School hosts Ra Whakangahau Kapa Haka festival.
20011	Maungatapu is a Decile 5 school that has 23 classrooms, catering for new entrant through to Year 6. There are 3 classrooms in the Puwhariki unit. The role sits at 460 pupils.The school is divided into house groups, which are: Arataki, Rangitane, Ikatere, Tangaroa and Awanui.
2013	School Dental Clinic closed. Two 21st Century classrooms in the Senior Syndicate Room 15 & 16 with a karakia opening service.
2002	Term 1: Library repaired with a new roof. Term 2: Under construction- Two more 21st Century classrooms in the Middle Syndicate Room 13 and 14. Term 3: 21st Century classrooms in the Middle Syndicate Room 13 and 14 with a karakia opening service
2015	A new role, Dual Medium Leader is created, with Ngaire Paki, appointed, with the support of iwi.
2015	Dental Clinic and Old Library (used as a classroom) removed from site
2017	Two new roll growth classrooms.
2018	Retirement of Principal, Sue Horne, at end of Term 4 (Roll 595)
2019	Appointment of new Principal, Tane Bennett (ex student)
2019	Room 18 and 19 modernised
2019	Kapa haka rōpu qualifies for the Nationals through the Regional Competition for the first time in history
2020	New School Logo introduced.
2020	School Donation Scheme introduced by Government to enhance free education. Schools with a decile rating between 1-7 qualify (and later with an Equity Index greater than 432)
2020	Covid 19 Pandemic; school experiences lockdowns.
2020	Old Administration Block and Rangiatea is demolished is make way for two new rollgrowth classrooms.
2020	Rooms 1,2,3 fully renovated for the second time and blessed. New name for the classroom block is; ‘Te Whare Moemoeā o Te Pūwhāriki’.
2022	Kapa haka rōpu qualifies for the Nationals for a second time through the Regional Competition.
2023	Kapa haka group attends National Competition in Nelson, for the first time (as 2020 nationals cancelled due to pandemic), achieving unprecedented success.
2023	Decile Rating System is replaced with a Equity Index System. Maungatapu School is 469 on the scale (ranging from 344-569). At the same time, a 50% increase to funding per student is given to MLP (Māori Language Programme L1).
2023	6 Nov – roll hits 600 for the first time
2023	2 new roll growth classrooms – Block T on site of Old admin/Rangiatea. Design includes a new atea.
2024	At the request of local iwi, MoE approve enrolment of Rumaki Raukura Y7-8 reviewable in 2yrs with students capped to 30. Starting roll of 18
2024	Bike Track opens on school grounds, shared school and TCC project

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Our Local Iwi / Hapu

Local Iwi and Hapu have a strong connection with this school. Not only of the history this school was founded, the school is very fortunate to have a Rumaki on the grounds.

Ngati Ranginui and Ngai Te Rangi

Our Local Iwi / Hapu

Ko Mauao te Maunga – Mauao is the Mountain Ko Takitimu Ko Mataatua nga Waka – Takitimu, Mataatua are our ancestral Canoes Ko Tauranga te Moana – Tauranga Moana is our sea Ko Ngati Ranginui, Ko Ngai Te Rangi, Ko Ngati Pukenga nga Iwi – Ngati Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Pukenga are our Iwi

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Ngati Ranginui

Ngati Ranginui are the descendants of ancestors who arrived on the Takitimu Waka, lived and settled in Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty hundreds of years ago. Their ancestor Tamatea Arikinui conducted the rituals and ceremonies of the arrival at Mauao. Over many generations, these ancestors and their descendants established villages, fortifications, burial grounds, fishing areas and forest places. These lands and waters have been confiscated following the land wars 1865. Today the tribal groups only retain a fraction of their once vast estates. They express the relationship with their ancestral lands by maintaining marae, retaining remnant reserves and keeping the identity and customary rights and practices alive (expressed from website Ngati Ranginui).

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Ngai Te Rangi

Ngai Te Rangi is a Mataatua tribe. They have a rich history which began from our journeys from the East Coast. After many battles, Ngai Te Rangi resided in Whangara, then Opotiki, and through intermarriage and many grueling battles, finally settled where we are today in Tauranga Moana. Their historical journey is known as Te Heke o Rangihouhiri. They were originally called Ngati Rangihouhiri but after the ancestor Te Rangihouhiri died in one of the country’s most bloodiest battles – Poporohuamea, his brother Tamapahore, led and renamed us Ngai Te Rangi. With the arrival of Europeans to this region, it was the Battle of Gate Pa which changed our city forever. The leaders of that time Rawiri Puhirake and Henare Taratoa lost their lives fighting for their people, and survival. Ngai Te Rangi has survived and flourished. Ngai Te Rangi have 11 operative Marae and 11 affiliated Hapu located as far north as Katikati through to Te Tumu in the east and on the islands of Matakana, Tuhua, Motiti and Rangiwaea and is the largest of the three Iwi that have settled in the Tauranga Moana (expressed from website Ngai Te Rangi).

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Ngati He

Ko Wairakewa te Wharenui

Ko Te Ao Takawhaaki te Wharekai

Ko Opopoti te Marae

Ko Ngāti Hē te Hapū

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Waiho ma nga papaka o Rangataua koe e mihi. He paruparu te kai he taniwha te tangata – Tihei mauri ora!

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Ngai Te Ahi

Ko Mauao te Maunga

Ko Awanui te Moana

Ko Takitimu te Waka

Ko Tamatea Arikinui te Tangata

Ko Ngāti Ranginui te Iwi

Ko Ngāi Te Ahi te Hapū

Ko Hairini te Marae

Ko Tamahika te Tangata

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“Mai ngā ngārehu o Whakapaukarakia, kei te kā tonu Te Ahi”

“From the embers of Whakapaukarakia the fire burns on”

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The original name of the Hairini area was Ohau. For generations, Ngāi Te Ahi has occupied the lands of Hairini, Ohauiti, Kaitemako, Poike, Waoku and parts of the Waimapu and Taumata. They share these areas with neighbouring whanau and hapu of Ngāti Ruahine, Ngāi Tamarāwaho and Ngāti He.

For more information about local Iwi, Hapu and Marae, visit this website: Tauranga Moana Maori Trust Board.

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About our School

Meet our Staff

School Leadership and Governance

Getting To and From School

History of Maungatapu

Te Pūwhāriki

Sports and Performing Arts

M*A*S*H* (Maungatapu Army of School Helpers)