Our Principal

Tena koutou katoa
He mihi , he mihi nui, he mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa. Nau mai haere mai.
Teenei pepeha ki te taha tooku paapaa
Te Arawa te waka
Ko Tamatekapua te tangata
Ko Ngongotaha te maunga
Ko Koutu te whenua
Ko Ngati Whakaue te iwi
Ko Rotorua nui a Kahumatamomoe te wai marino
Ko Tunahopu te marae
Ko Tutanekai te Rangatira
No Rotorua ahau

Ki te taha o tooku maamaa
Tainui te waka
Ko Moehau me Te Aroha nga maunga 
Ko Tikapakapa te moana
Ko Hauraki te whenua
Ko Maratuuahu te tangata
Ko Ngati Tamatera te iwi
Ko Ngati Tawhaki te hapu
Kei ai ia a Paeroa
Ko Hinemoana Hingston tooku ingoa
Ko te kaupapa o taku koorero ko tooku whakapapa

No reira tena koutou, tena koutou katoa

Kia ora and Welcome

Tena koutou katoa,

At Te Kura Tuatahi o Paeroa, our vision “Ko te ako, Ko te tipu ake” sits at the heart of our kura. We see learning and growth as a shared journey, shaped through strong relationships, tautoko, and a deep sense of belonging. Guided by our Hauraki whakataukī “Hauraki ki uta, Hauraki ki tai, Hauraki kōwhao rau,” we honour the whakapapa of our people, our whenua, and our waters, and the unique identity of our community.

As Principal, I feel privileged to be part of this journey. I am continually encouraged by the way our tamariki are engaging in their learning and growing in confidence in who they are. Seeing our students embrace their cultural identity, and thrive across both te reo Māori and English, is something I am deeply passionate about and proud of.

Our kura is strengthened by the relationships we share with our iwi, marae, and whānau. These connections guide our direction and ensure that what we do reflects the hopes and aspirations of our community. Together, we continue to nurture an environment where our tamariki feel supported, valued, and inspired to grow.

While we remain a dual-medium kura in 2026, we are future-focused, moving forward on a pathway toward becoming a kura ā-iwi and establishing a Te Wharekura by 2029. This journey reflects a long-held aspiration of our Hauraki whānau, and we step into this next phase, building a strong foundation with care, optimism, and a shared commitment to the future of our tamariki. 

Noho ora mai,
Mona Hingston
Principal | Tumuaki