Te Paepae o Aotea is a state co-educational school for Year 7 – 15 students based in Hāwera, South Taranaki.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui and Te Korowai o Ngāruahine have gifted the name of our school informed by the aspirations of our community. It was intended that the name be clearly South Taranaki, be inclusive and relevant to the whole community, and reflect our history and ambitions for the future.
Tēna Koutou e te whanau
Te Paepae o Aotea opened in February 2023 with approximately 1000 students. We are a co-educational state school catering for students in Year 7-15. Te Paepae o Aotea was formed in response to the closure of Hāwera High School and Hāwera Intermediate at the end of the 2022 school year.
Our school name, Te Paepae o Aotea, was gifted to us by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui and Te Korowai o Ngāruahine. Alongside our name, we were also gifted a whakatauākī and logo. There are two major components to our name, Paepae and Aotea and the condensed meaning is “We are on the learning journey of Aotea, as the people of South Taranaki, realising our full potential.”
Our whakatauāki, ‘Kia eke atu ki Taupaenui o te tangata,’ challenges us to instil in our students the tools to help them achieve their full potential, in the pursuits they and their whānau deem important. Our cultural narrative is the foundation that we use to unpack elements of Mātauranga Māori. Te Ao Māori is prioritised across the curriculum.
A school wide culturally responsive pedagogy builds a family-like context, in which restorative practice promotes a healthy community and maintains authentic relationships.
Ngā mihi
The New Zealand Curriculum is a document that outlines educational requirements in schools. The everyday teaching and learning that students experience is the result of teachers weaving together the national curriculum with local context and the diverse aspirations of learners and their whānau, in ways that are responsive to individual learner progress.
Today, after weeks of dedicated practice, Te Paepae o Aotea held its annual Inter Awa Waiata Competition. This year's Filipino theme brought a vibrant display of beautiful costumes and creative props. Every Awa delivered strong vocal performances, making for an outstanding competition. Congratulations to Kaūpokonui, who claimed the title for 2026! ...
RSVP by Wednesday, 2 September 2026:
Des.Bain@tepaepaeoaotea.school.nz
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Te Paepae o Aotea wishes our 1st XI Mixed Hockey team all the best as they head away for Winter Tournament Week in Carterton. The team will proudly represent Te Paepae o Aotea at the Wollaston Trophy Tournament, running from Monday, 31 August to Friday, 4 September. Good luck, team. We're all behind you! ...
Te Paepae o Aotea wishes our Year 9-10 Basketball team all the best for the upcoming Taranaki Steelformers Year 9-10 Baskeball Classic held at the TSB Hub in Hāwera. The Tournament runs from Saturday, 29 August to Tuesday, 1 September. Good luck, team. We're all behind you! ...
Te Paepae o Aotea wishes our Senior A Netball team all the best as they head away for Winter Tournament Week in Wellington. The team will proudly represent Te Paepae o Aotea at the Lower North Island Secondary School Netball Championships, running from Sunday 30 August to Saturday, 5 September. Good luck, team. We're all behind you! ...
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Photos from Te Paepae o Aotea's post ...
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Te Paepae o Aotea congratulates the Hockey 1st XI Mixed Team on winning the Taranaki Secondary School Boys Championship Final in Stratford against Stratford Boys 1st XI. Final scor
The Te Paepae o Aotea team of Ronan Hurley, Tyler Midgley, Luke Barnett and Ryan Hockly took out the 2023 Taranaki Secondary School Safety Team Challenge against six other high s
Students from Te Paepae o Aotea particpated in the Smokefree Rockquest Taranaki Finals held on 30 June at the TSB Showplace, New Plymouth. We had three entries. All bands to write
