Kia eke atu ki Taupaenui o te tangata

People reaching their full potential

Welcome to our school

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.

Meet our principal

Rachel Williams, Tumuaki


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

Te Paepae O Aotea Curriculum

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.

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On Friday, 30 October, our Year 13 students gathered with staff to celebrate the end of their high school journey at a special Leavers' Dinner at Tika, to enjoy one final meal together before heading off on their next adventures in further study, training, or employment.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the special student-voted awards, recognising their unique personalities.
As our Year 13 students prepare for the next chapter, we thank them for their contribution to Te Paepae o Aotea and wish them every success for 2027 and beyond.
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Photos from Te Paepae o Aotea's post ...

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Te Paepae o Aotea congratulates Divan Denton on winning the Australian National Left-Handed Golfers Championship by an impressive seven shots. An outstanding achievement. Well done, Divan! ...

Te Paepae o Aotea co

The final day of our Year 13 Dress Up Week was all about duos and trios! Students showed off their creativity, arriving as B1 & B2, the Statue of Liberty, a Tourist and New York Taxi, The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who, The Hangover crew, Harry Potter and Hermione, Remy and Linguine, and many more. A great way to finish off a fantastic week. ...

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Photos from Te Paepae o Aotea's post ...

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See what's happening

We have completed our lockdown EXERCISE and all all students, staff and persons on site are safely accounted for.
27 March 2025

Te Paepae o Aotea is conducting a lockdown EXERCISE - Thursday, 27 March 2025 at 11.50am.