Ngā moemoea

Ngāti wai ki uta, Ngāti wai ki tai

Kia Tika Kia Manaaki  Kia Ako Ngātiwai Kia Tū Rangatira ai 

Kia Tūpato! Ka tangi a Tūkaiāia kei te moana, Ko Ngātiwai kei te moana e haere ana; 

Ka tangi a Tūkaiāia Kei tuawhenua, ko Ngātiwai kei tuawhenua e haere ana 

Explanation: We are preparing our tamariki, mokopuna for a dynamic future. If they are to take their place in te ao hurihuri they need to grow the skills and be fed the knowledge that will guarantee them success. The more we learn the more opportunities we create for ourselves. In consultation with one of our respected Ngati Wai kuia and original students of the school,  Terahingahinga Reti taught the the most appropriate whakatauki that aligns with the vision ‘Freedom through learning’ comes from an ancient whakatauki “ Ko te manu e kai ana e te miro, noona te ngahere, ko te manu e kai ana e te matauranga, noona te ao” (The bird that partakes of the miro berry, his/hers is the forest, the bird that partakes of knowledge, his/hers is the world). The more learning and knowledge our tamariki receive the more opportunities they create for themselves in the future.  

This vision stems from a few local whakaaro and tikanga. A significant kaitiaki/Mauri of the Ngati Wai is Tukaiaia. He takes the form of a bird. This bird is also represented in our school logo, designed by tohunga Te Warahi Hetaraka and adopted by the school in 2009.  With the symbolism of the bird comes notions of balance, protection, communication and freedom.