Our Place
Gate Pā School is in the heart of the Gate Pā community, surrounded by bustling facilities including a shopping centre, cafes, a hospital, and the Pukehinahina memorial reserve. Just metres away lies a secondary school and several early childhood centres including Te Puna Reo o Pukehinahina.
Our school is situated on Cameron Road, one of the main roads through the city, and is within an easy drive to Tauranga's city centre.
The area served by Gate Pā School has matured into an urban area which includes privately owned family homes, retirement townhouses, state and rental homes. There are many new subdivisions nearby and many more are planned. Our diverse school community could be considered typical of today’s urban world.
On leaving Gate Pā School most students attend Tauranga Intermediate School or Te Wharekura o Mauao.
Our History
Up until March 22nd 2001 our school was known as Tauranga South School. After extensive consultation with the local community and the wider Tauranga, the decision was made to rename the school as Gate Pā School.
This area in Tauranga is now known as the suburb of Gate Pā; it is very close to where the famous battle of Gate Pā took place and we wanted to embrace this significant history in our school.
You will notice in our school logo the gourd (water container) that was given by a Māori woman, Hēni Pore to an injured British soldier which embraces the compassion and dignity that was shown during the time of war.
Our School Houses
Our school houses are named after key rangatira/leaders of the Battle of Gate Pā:
Battle of Gate Pā - 1864
The Battle of Gate Pā is probably the battle which made the greatest impact in the history of the New Zealand Wars. In an effort to cut off reinforcements and food supplies which were filtering through to the Māori rebels in the Waikato area, the British sent their troops to Tauranga, where Gate Pā was situated, in order to attack the fortress.
Around 200 warriors from the Ngai-te-Rangi tribe were in place one side of the pā and around 35 warriors, mainly from the Ngati Koheriki tribe, reinforced the other side. The chief, Rawiri Puhirake was in charge.
On the 29th April 1862, the 43rd British regiment attacked the Pā. 1,700 soldiers were armed with Armstrong artillery; 8 mortars, 2 howitzers, 2 naval canon and 5 Armstrong guns. The Armstrong gun was a relatively new weapon, having been invested in 1854. The British troops knew by this time that an extremely well fortified Pā, even manned by armed Maori warriors who were numerically inferior in number, was not a future battle to be taken lightly.
General Cameron was in charge of the Imperial troops. The soldiers opened fire on Gate Pā, and during a short time bombarded it heavily. The following day the troops bombarded again, for a longer period, and this time succeeded in breaking opening a large point of entry to the pā. Cameron then sent an elite assault force to penetrate the breach opened up during the bombardment.
The assault force was made up of the 43rd Regiment and a naval brigade, an approximate total of 300 men. The part advanced succeeded in entering the pā, but within ten minutes were forced to rapidly withdraw, leaving around 100 dead and wounded soldiers inside the pā.
The British had thought their previous heavy bombardment has taken effect, owing to the fact that there has been little response fire from within the pā. However, on entering via the breach, the British troops found themselves being fired on at very close range from Māori in hiding.
Source: http://history-nz.org/wars4.html
A reinforcement group of soldiers was sent to relieve the trapped assault force in the pā. However, the reinforcements found themselves caught up in the retreat from the pa by the first assault force. From two separate areas of the pā, the Maori were firing on the two groups of troops, who were by this time caught up in the deadly crossfire.
During the night the Maori, who had not suffered a particularly heavy loss due to their well-planned strategy, evacuated the pā, taking with them the abandoned British weapons.
After the battle of Gate Pā there was much controversy about the defeat of the elite Imperial troops, heavily armed and far superior in number to the Maori.
The Maori warrior was a magnificent, brave and fierce fighter. Their strong spiritual ties to the land led them to fight with passion and vigour. The British soldiers had much respect for these fierce fighters. However, the Maori eventually and inevitably lost their war and land due to the superior firepower of the British troops, and the ever-continuing arrival of European settlers.
It is worth noting that many Maori were pro-government, and either joined the government troops during the wars, or remained neutral. They welcomed the beneficial economic relations with the European, and preferred to maintain good relations. On the other hand, other tribes joined up with the British or Colonial forces in order to avenge enemy tribes.
For further information, go to:
Battle of Gate Pā
NZ History - Gate Pā
Our Pou
Gate Pā School Poupou
Situated at the entrance of the school are two poupou, at the top of each stand two local ancestors Te Rauhea Paraone Koikoi (1828-1874) on the right and his wife Matatu Koikoi (1824- 1896) on the left.
They are both holding Rau/Leaves, performing a Pōwhiri/Welcoming, Te Rauhea is doing the Wero/Challenge and Matatu is doing a Karanga/Summoning to all those who visit the school. During Te Pakanga o Pukehinahina (Battle of Gate Pā) both Te Rauhea and Matatu provided protection, shelter and support to children and women. They now stand at our entrance as kaitiaki for the tamariki and whānau at Pukehinahina.
On each of their shoulders are carved heads that represent the school’s values. Below the figures are four heads that represent the schoolhouses, named after key Rangatira/Leaders of the Battle of Pukehinahina/Gate Pā. Below Te Rauhea is Rawiri Puhirake and bottom is Henare Wiremu Taratoa. Below Matatu is Hēni Pore and bottom is Penetaka Tuaia. You will notice in the eyes of Hēni Pore are Hue/Gourds.
A gourd was used as a water container to aid an injured British soldier which embraces the compassion and dignity that was shown during the time of war. On each finger of Te Rauhea’s hand are 6 manaia head, which represent the Iwi/Tribes that Tautoko/Supported Tauranga Moana in the Battle of Pukehinahina. On the knees of each figure are 4 carved heads representing British Governor George Grey, General Duncan Cameron, Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Greer and Captain John Hamilton.
On either side of these two Pou are six painted pouwhenua. These are the result of a collaborative project between Gate Pā School students, their families and local artists from The Incubator. They depict six different continents and some of the cultures within. They reflect the students’ view of their culture. They also acknowledge and celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Gate Pā School, a school who values the histories and traditions of all its people.
Local Iwi
There are three iwi of Tauranga Moana:
The boundaries of the tribes’ territory run from Bowentown, at Tauranga Harbour, down to Pāpāmoa, inland along the Kaimai Ranges, and back to Bowentown.
Ngāti Ranginui
Ngāti Ranginui’s territory includes the Tauranga shoreline. Their ancestor is Ranginui, a great grand-son of the Polynesian navigator Tamatea.
Ngāi Te Rangi
The name is shortened for that of the chief, Te Rangihouhiri, after he was killed in a battle at Maketū. To avenge his death they successfully fought for land at Tauranga Moana.
https://www.ngaiterangi.org.nz/
Ngāti Pukenga
Ngāti Pukenga occupy land at Ngāpeke, and Manaia in Hauraki. It is said their ancestor Pūkenga named the Kaimai ranges.
http://www.ngatipukenga.co.nz/
Kāhui Ako
Gate Pā School is part of the Tauranga Pennisula Kāhui Ako (Community of Learning - CoL).
Our COL aims to bring together our individual strengths as a collective to establish effective interventions and innovations for our students from Year 1 - 13.
This group is is made up of 15 + schools, 40 ECE centres, members of our local iwi, school whanau and the wider Tauranga Moana community.
A major focus of our Kāhui Ako is to ensure our priority learners, such as Māori, Pasifika and students with additional learning needs are given opportunities to experience and achieve successful outcomes during their time at school.
Help raise funds for Gate Pā School
Thanks to New World Gate Pā who have partnered with Gate Pā School you can help to raise funds each time you do your grocery shopping.
This is a great way to raise extra money for our kura to support our students, through the support of our Gate Pā School community who shop at New World Gate Pā. Every time you shop at New World Gate Pā and present your Clubcard, Gate Pā School will receive 1% of the total spend!
All you need to do is simply need to do is register your club card below.
The more families signed up for the programme who scan their Clubcard at the checkout every shop, the more funds you can help raise.
SO PLEASE SHARE this will ALL you family, friends, colleagues, church members or any other member of the community and ask them to register their card!
Ngā mihi
Gate Pā School
How does it work?
Every time you shop at New World Gate Pā and present your Clubcard, Gate Pā School will receive 1% of the total spend! The more families signed up for the programme who scan their Clubcard at the checkout every shop, the more funds you can help raise.
- Register your Clubcard with Gate Pā School. Shop at New World Gate Pā and scan your Clubcard with every shop.
- New World Gate Pā will then donate 1% of all sales made with participating Clubcards scanned to Gate Pā School to support various initiatives within the school.
- Please provide your Clubcard number to the school so we can register your card.
- Once you’ve registered your card, Gate Pā School will reap the rewards every time you shop at New World Gate Pā!
Register your New World Clubcard
Simply enter the number on your club card starting with 6014
After - School Care
Gate Pā School children can be transported to After-School Care centres.
We currently have children who regularly attend:
Coastkids - Greerton
To enrol at Coastkids, please phone: 07 282 7570 or enrol using the online portal.
iCare - Tauranga City
To enrol at iCare, please phone: 021 078 0036 or email: manager@icarekids.co.nz
Support Services
The names and contacts of a range of support agencies who support with food, well-being and family violence.
Food Support
- Tauranga Food Bank - G/4 Brook Street, Merivale - 07 578 9888
- Te Manu Toroa - 11 Tebbs Lane, Gate Pa - 07 571 2017
- Salvation Army - 51 5th Avenue - 07 578 4264
- Welcome Bay community centre - only on Wednesdays 9-4pm - 07 544 9774
- Merivale community centre - 0800 386 657
- Good Neighbour - 39B Burrows Street, Tauranga 07 394 4249/ 022 043 1040
- Kai Aroha will provide meals on Fridays only) one takeaway meal per person - Greerton Hall driveway 6:30 - 7pm
Mental Wellness for kids/adults
Online resources
- allright.org.nz
- wellbeingsessions.nz
- melonhealth.com/mental-well-being/
- justathought.co.nz/covid19
- the lowdown.co.nz
- Free call or text 1737 - free trained counsellor service
Especially for our tamariki
- Sparx app - university of Auckland
- youthline.co.nz/web-chat-counseling.html + melonhealth.com/manual/
Call
- the lowdown 0800 111 757 or text 5626
- for kids - what’s up helpline and phone counseling - 0800 942 8787
- parent help (for parenting support, advice and strategies) - 0800 568 856
- lifeline - 0800 543 354 or text help to 4357
- suicide crisis helpline - 0508 828 865
- anxiety NZ - 0800 269 4389
- family violence helpline - are you ok 0800 456 450, or shine - 0508 744 633
Covid Testing
- Contact Healthline or your doctor to advise whether you need a covid test. Healthline = 0800 358 5453
- Te Manu Toroa - 11 Tebbs Lane, Gate Pa - 07 571 2017
- Gate Pa medical centre (enrolled patients) - 1005 Cameron Roas, Gate Pa - 07 578 4309
- Chadwick Heathcare Greerton (enrolled patients) - 120 Chadwick Road, Greerton - 07 579 0144
- Healthcare on 15th Avenue - 51 fifteenth ave, Tauranga - 07 578 8089
Covid Vaccinations
- Contact healthline or GP to find out if/when you are eligible.
- Te Manu Toroa - 11 Tebbs Lane, Gate Pa
- Mount Maunganui Trustpower Baypark, Truman Lane
- Tauranga Central - 87 first Avenue
Family Violence Services
Tauranga Women’s Refuge
- Office is closed.
- The safe house remains open.
- 24/7 helpline is available on 0800 86 733 843.
- Facebook TaurangaWomensRefuge.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ranginui Iwi
- Staff will continue to coordinate and liaise virtually, via phone and email. • Phone 07 777 0410.
- Facebook Ngati Ranginui.
Shakti
- All offices and op shops closed.
- Crisis line remains open on 0800 742 583 (0800 SHAKTI).
- Facebook Shakti.
Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support
- Office and clinic are closed. Staff are available for clients and key stakeholders by phone and internet.
- Crisis and support line 0800 227 233 or 07 577 0512.
- Facebook Tautoko Mai.
Tauranga Living without Violence
- Offices are closed, staff available by phone or internet.
- Phone 0800 577 003 or 07 577 9297.
- Facebook Tauranga Living without Violence.
