The historic Māori boys' boarding institution Hato Tīpene (St.Stephens), now known as Tīpene opened its doors on Waitangi Day and has welcomed the first group of new students since its closure in 2000.
The intake of 42 students was selected over 120 applications, highlighting the strong demand for culturally relevant education options.
One of them being a second-generation student to attend Tīpene. Taniora Te Kurapa-Waitai (Ngāti Kurī, Rongowhakaata me Ngāi Tūhoe) is one of many sons of a former Tīpene old boy that is looking forward to being a part of an established legacy.
“I rongo au i ngā kōrero mai i tōku Pāpā ‘Ko te kura a Tīpene te kura o ngā kura i tērā wā.”
Although being a legacy child of a former student, Te Kurapa-Waitai said the decision to come to Tīpene was his alone, and he hopes to leave a legacy of his own.
“Tuatahi ko ngā hākinakina. Tuarua ko ōku mahi kura. Tuatoru ko ngā whakawhanaungatanga o aku hoamahi hou. Tuawhā, ko te nohoanga ki konei.”
Under the leadership of co-principals Nathan Durie and Yvette McCausland-Durie, Tīpene hopes to provide a culturally responsive education tailored to the needs of Māori and Pacific boys from years 9 to 13.
Nathan Durie said the arrival of the students has made months of dreaming become reality.
“Aku kare ā roto e pā ana ki te taenga mai o ngā tauira hou, e rere ana. Me te rerekētanga kē ehara ko ngā tauira anake ka tae mai, ā, ka tae mai ngā whānau ngā hapū, koinā te Māoritanga a Tīpene kē.”
As the new cohort are welcomed by the many esteemed Tīpene almuni, Durie encourages the 42 students to follow on from the legacy they’ve left behind.
Ko ngā tama pakeke ngā pou tuarā mo te tira hou.
Kua tuwhera anō ngā tatau o te kura o Tipene, ki Tāmaki Makaurau, e whāngaihia ana ngā tama Māori.
Ko Joe Harawira, uri o Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto me Tūhourangi, tētahi o āna ika ā whiro, ā ko ia hoki tētehi o ngā tama pakeke o te kura.
Hei tāna, ko te whakatuwheratanga tētahi tohu o tō rātou ko ngā tama pakeke pakanga, he tohu hoki o tō rātou aroha ki te kura.
“E rua tekau mā rima tau tēnei kaupapa i tohe i whakakipakipa i te poari tarati e whakakipakipa me te Hāhi kia whakatūwhera o tātou nei kura. He rā nui tēnei kua tutuki ngā wawata o ngā mātua kua huri ki te arai kia whakatūwhera anō o tātou kura.”
E hia rau ngā ika ā whiro i hoki atu ki te pōhiri i te tira hou o Tipene.
Ko Tipene tētahi o ngā kura pakeke ake, o ngā kura māori huri i te motu, ā kua ara ake anō i tōna rua.
E hia kē nei ngā ika ā whiro kua puta ā ihu, ā, e kōkirihia tonutia ana ngā kaupapa Māori huhua o te motu, pērā i a Tā Herewini Parata, Taiarahia Black, Kīngi Tuheitia, Shane Jones me te huhua noa atu.
Hei tā Harawira, ka pērā tonu te taumata, nōna i te kura.
“Koinā te taumata a te Pā o Tipene. Kei te kite ake i ngā tama pakeke kua tatū mai i tēnei rangi. Ko rātou kei te ārahi o rātou iwi, o rātou kamupene mo aha rā, mo aha rā. Nō reirā he pai te kite a ngā tama ki a rātou.”
I te wā e whakarite ana ngā tama pakeke o Tipene ki te whakatau i te tira hou, ko tā Harawira kupu akiaki ki ngā tauira hou, kia titiro matatau ki te rangi.
“Kia kaha koutou! Whaia te iti kahurangi ki te tuohu me ngā maunga teitei.”
Hei tā tētahi o ngā tauira hou, tā Te Kurapa-Waitai e hīkaka ana ia ki te whai wheako, pērā i tōna matua i a ia i te kura.
“Koinā te taumata e kōrero ana a tōku Pāpā. Nō reirā, koinā te taumata ka taea e au ki te kimi,”
