12 Dec 2002

The St Stephen’s and Queen Victoria Schools Trust Board is to replace the former Maori boys’ and girls’ boarding schools with a network of new schools in Auckland.

Trust Board Chair Rangi Pouwhare said: “Mataariki will take the best of the national educational curriculum and Matauranga Maori (Maori learning and being) and mould them together into a new style of schooling."

“Mataariki schools will seek to produce confident, proud and ambitious young Maori men and Women and will strive for academic excellence in subjects taught in English and in Maori. They will be bi-lingual and bi-cultural. They will also be co-educational day schools.” Ms Pouwhare said.

The Mataariki network of schools will consist of three composite schools catering for students from years one to 10, and a senior school for students from years 11 to 13. The first composite school is planned to be opened in 2005 and the senior school in 2011. Detailed planning is expected to be completed by the middle of next year. The timing of the other two composite schools is yet to be finalised.

On a final note, Ms Pouwhare said she wanted to reiterate that sites of the former St Stephen’s and Queen Victoria Schools will not be sold, as had been repeatedly but incorrectly rumored a number of times.