HISTORY

Land for a school was given by our tīpuna at Te Puia to the Education Dept. The leaders at that time Hirini Te Ao Pururangi, Herewini Te Moana, Hohepa Karapaina, stated, “ Ko te whenua nei , Hei tūranga kura mō ngā tamariki.”

The Raukōkore School was officially opened in 1887. The school started with a roll of approximately 26 or more students. Former students are remembered for their services in World War 2 serving in the Maori Battalion Company C and other conflicts. (School Remembrance Board)

The school had its jubilee in 1968 and celebrated its 125th Birthday in 2012.

Major highlight was the filming of the Boy Movie in 2010, Directed by former student Taika Waititi.

In 2015 the Minister of Education, Hekia Parata announced that the Raukōkore school was to close. Many submissions were sent to the Minister to keep our school open. One such submission was put together by Professor Chris Battershill from the University of Waikato

Chris and another colleague were passing through when by chance they called in at the Butler residence and discussed going further down the coast to scope suitable places to setup a marine research centre.

John and Stewart Butler said “Don’t go any further we have just the place for a research centre, the Raukōkore School. After meeting the Raukōkore staff and whānau a submission was written.

The submission outlined setting up a marine research centre at the school which there would be huge benefits for the Raukōkore students, the Hapu and the wider community.

Unfortunately, the submissions sent in did not avert closure. The Raukōkore School officially closed 28th January 2016.

After the closure of the school the Te Poito Lands Charitable Trust was setup to be Kaitiaki of our closed school. The Trust was endorsed by the Te Whanau-a-Pararaki Hapū to take on this Kaitiaki role.

Since closure, the Te Poito LCT Trustees and Professor Chris Battershill formed a relationship and continued to work toward setting up a research centre at the school.

The perseverance paid off, mid May 2022 Te Poito Lands Charitable Trust secured Vision Matauranga Capability Funding, a two year research program which has also provided an opportunity for research assistants / cadets.

The latter part of 2022, Professor Chris Battershill secured – Building a Sustainable Future for Coastal Reef Ecosystems Fund, a five year research program, both funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE).

The opening of the Raukōkore Marine Research Centre 15th September 2023 continues the aspirations of our tipuna who gifted the land

Hei Tūranga Kura Mō Ngā Tamariki.