Maungatapu Primary has a proud and valued history. At 132 years old, our kura has seen many changes in the world and in education, growing and adapting while staying true to the principles it was founded on. Throughout this time, Maungatapu has remained firmly student‑centred, continually evolving to meet the needs of our Maungatapu learners.
In an ever‑changing world, where 21st‑century learners are diverse and expectations on schools continue to rise, Maungatapu Primary responds with a thoughtful, strategic, and collaborative approach. Our commitment is to honour our past while preparing our tamariki for their future.
Maungatapu School is proud to offer a range of well‑maintained facilities for our community to enjoy. Our grounds are open for use after school, on weekends, and during the holidays. The school and community hall is also available for hire outside school hours; please contact the school office for booking information.
To help us keep our kura safe, clean, and welcoming, we ask visitors to avoid leaving litter and to keep skateboards off our decks and seats. For the safety and comfort of all tamariki, we also prefer that dogs are kept at home rather than walked to school with the children.
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Maungatapu School is a school with a proud heritage and a rich and colourful history. Founded in 1881, the school is uniquely located between two marae – Hairini of Ngai te Ahi and Maungatapu of Ngāti He. The traditional name of the area where the school currently stands is Te Puwhāriki. The land was once productive with gardens, flax, trees and birds, providing an environment that nurtured growth and sustainability for the people of the Maungatapu area.
The school currently operates two curriculums – The NZ Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. Staff are passionate about supporting individual students with their learning needs and are encouraged to treat all children as if they were their own. This forms the basis of having a solid foundation for education at Maungatapu school where learning is fun, challenging, nurturing and culturally responsive. In this approach, staff and students are happy, feel they belong and develop a strong connection with the Maungatapu School community.
The school logo is based on a stylised and modernised representation of the Tūī. Tūī are considered special by Māori and were sometimes tamed and taught to speak. It is shown in the design amongst Kowhai and Pohutukawa. These trees are prevalent in the local community and Tūī love resting in their branches. Pohutukawa are often trees that relate to the past with significance to those that have gone before us. The kowhai tree, in this instance, is symbolic to the school’s future and prosperity.
The throat tuft of the Tūī (in the shape of a koru) represents growth and learning. The interconnected koru (the tui’s neck feathers) represent the support of whānau and teachers in support of learning. The three tail feathers represent the school values – Honesty, Respect and Courage. They also represent Strength Knowledge and Identity from the school’s History, Land and People. All of these help guide the direction of the school.
Lastly, the four house colours are represented in the logo. The blue/green colour of the logo symbol shows and represents the translucent colour of our native Tūī. This colour can often change on a Tūī, similarly to the ever-changing world of education. Maungatapu School has seen and experienced many changes in how our world and society function. It has grown with the change and still holds many of the founding principles within the culture of the school.
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It is important that student’s attend school regularly, ideally arriving at school between 8.30 and 8.50 am.
To report an absence, use the Hero App or phone the school on 07 5440858
In all cases please include your child’s name, room number and the reason for their absence together with your name.
VALUES
164 Maungatapu Road
Maungatapu
Tauranga 3112
07 544 0858
office@maungatapu.school.nz
