Kia eke atu ki Taupaenui o te tangata – People reaching their full potential
The fund was originally established in 2019 as part of the Hāwera High School Centennial Celebrations and fundraising, initially known as the Hāwera High School Fund. It is designed to provide support and assistance for the school’s welfare, as well as education, learning, cultural, and sporting activities.
Te Paepae o Aotea is a school of approximately 1000 students and opened at the start of the 2023 school year. This is a co-educational state school catering for students for Years 7-15.
The Ministry of Education, at the beginning of 2020, received the education building briefs from Hāwera High School and Hāwera Intermediate. They recognised that both schools needed major building works. A period of community consultation led by the Ministry of Education started in 2020 and continued into 2021. This consultation focused on the community having their say on the future schooling provisions for Hāwera. The Minister of Education, Hon Chris Hipkins announced in November 2021 that both Hawera High School and Hawera Intermediate would close. In response to the closures Te Paepae o Aotea was formed and opened on the Hawera High School site in Camberwell Road.
The Te Paepae o Aotea Fund is managed by the Taranaki Foundation. Donations are invested permanently, with the capital preserved indefinitely. Each year, the income generated from these investments supports various charitable initiatives for Te Paepae o Aotea students.
Find out more about the fund and the school here: Te Paepae o Aotea Trust Fund | Te Paepae O Aotea