Identity and Belonging

We are a small school with a big heart.

At Mahana School, we strive to create an environment that embraces all types of learners and promotes growth in academics, the arts, creativity, thinking, health and wellbeing.

We strive to educate the whole child enabling our ākonga who have Mahanatanga in their hearts and the world in their hands.

Students and families are also welcomed into a friendly and supportive community.

The school was founded in 1915 with around a dozen students and while people come and go, the values, uniqueness, and heart of the school stays the same. We have an impressive oak tree that takes pride of place along the drive as well as an abundance of fruit trees, herbs and vegetables growing around the school as a natural part of our environment for all to enjoy.

Our aim is to ensure our tamariki are KNOWN, VALUED and CARED FOR which is achievable being a small country kura.

Mahana has many traditions that help us maintain connections to our place. Among these are; whānau are thanked for their support at our end of year assembly with thoughtful gifts created by the students. Visitors that contribute to our learning are sung waiata to show our appreciation of their time and Year Eight Leavers are proud to see their original name tiles attached outside the office walls at the end of their last year. These serve as a reminder that they are always a part of us.

The school's whakataukī encourages these young adults and all who join us to ...

'Hold your Mahanatanga close to your heart, and go out to thrive in the world.' Tae rawa te Mahanatanga ki tōu ngākau, ka haere ki te ao mārama.

'Mahanatanga' is the term coined to encapsulate our values which are weaved throughout all learning.

We strive to foster this in all we say and do with our students.

Once a part of the Mahana whānau - always a part of the Mahana whānau.