Our school’s whare is named Te Hikoi and is an important space of culture and learning in our school.
Tukutuku panels
The tukutuku panels that embellish the walls of Te Hikoi were created in 2025 as a collaboration between Whaea Sharon Bennett and students from our year 9 Toi (Maaori Art) class with the support of Whaea Charlotte Manga (Kaiako Toi) and Te Waahanga Whaka Ako Maaori (the Maaori faculty).
The two large panels were designed by Whaea Sharon to represent Ranginui and Papatuaanuku. The Ranginui panel depicts the stars of Matariki. The Papatuaanuku panel incorporates images of the township and of the horticultural activity that characterises Pukekohe. The large raakau depicted is the kohekohe tree, and the figure references the carvings which stand on top of Pukekohe hill.
The smaller panel were designed and created by students in pairs with the guidance of Whaea Sharon and Whaea Charlotte.
My tukutuku represents the growth of Pukekohe after suffering a horrifying past Pukekohe is becoming stronger at regaining our Te Reo Maaori
The dark red thread represents how the sacrifices our ancestors made to regain our Maoritanga back but also to make this a better place for not only our rangatahi but also for our Te Reo, all the blood, sweat and tears.
The white threads represent the new generation /our Rangatahi and how they are bringing light into the Te Ao Maaori. Our Rangatahi will uphold our culture and language our Te Reo Maaori will not be forgotten or taken away as it once did.
- The bottom arrow tree represents our whanau, and the box around is all our other whaanau.
- The white arrows are the people that are always supporting us and keeping us safe and secure.
- The top green one is our whanau members that have passed on.
- The yellow areas represent the breakdowns and the hardship that we have been through in life.
- This is the korero of how it’s been growing up within our whanau environment.
