Te Wharekura o Mauao, Bethlehem (Tauranga)

Key facts

About Te Wharekura o Mauao

Te Wharekura o Mauao is a Māori-medium kura located in Tauranga Moana, providing education for students in Years 7 to 13. Te Reo Māori is the primary language of instruction. The kura operates within a tikanga Māori framework, with Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, and Ngāti Pūkenga recognised as Mana Whenua.

The school's curriculum covers academic, sporting, and cultural dimensions, with an emphasis on Tauranga Moanatanga as a guiding world-view — encompassing the customs, language, and history of the region's iwi. Tauira are prepared to take on roles as kaitiaki of their own marae as part of this cultural continuity.

The school describes its academic results as tracking above the national average for Māori students. Teachers are required to be committed to Te Reo Māori alongside subject-area teaching.

Enrolment

Entry to Te Wharekura o Mauao is based on Māori language fluency rather than a geographic zone. There are two pathways, depending on a student's language background.

Students from Māori medium schooling

Students who have attended a kura ā iwi, kura kaupapa Māori, or a Māori immersion unit within a mainstream school can apply directly. The administration team arranges an enrolment interview with the Principal following receipt of an application.

Students from English medium schooling

Students who have attended English medium schooling and are not yet able to speak or learn in te reo Māori may apply to join the waiting list for Whakatipu Reo, a small transition class for students still developing Māori language skills. When a place becomes available, staff contact the applicant's whānau to arrange a Principal interview. The school notes that success in this programme depends on substantial whānau support for the student's language development.

Entry timing and application

New students are accepted at the start of each term (cohort entry). To begin in Term 1 of a given year, all enrolment stages — including the interview — must be completed before the end of the preceding year. Applications are submitted by completing the enrolment form and emailing it to admin@mauao.school.nz.

Student Support and Pastoral Care Services

Te Wharekura o Mauao provides the following named student support services:

• Whare Manaaki (Whare Hauora) — the school's wellbeing space, providing pastoral, social, emotional, and health support to students and their whānau. It houses the school nurse and counsellor, and connects students with external hauora providers.
• Nēhi (Nurse) — Whaea Tara Gardiner, a Registered Nurse appointed by the DHB, provides a private and confidential health service onsite Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 08:30am to 2:30pm, with an open-door policy during break times.
• Ringa Whakamahere Ora (Counsellor) — based within the Whare Manaaki, providing social and emotional support to students.
• Pou Whakamahere Ora / Pou Whakarito Oranga (Learning Support Coordinators) — coordinate support for students with additional learning and wellbeing needs, develop individual support programmes, oversee targeted interventions, and manage the referral process for students, kaiako, and whānau.
• Kaiāwhina (Teacher Aides) — work alongside kaiako to support students with additional needs, allocated on the basis of funding criteria, for both targeted programmes and inclusive classroom practice.
• Transition Programme — supports students entering the kura who may need extra assistance, including additional visits, ongoing monitoring, and Individual Education Plans (IEPs) where appropriate.