Matauranga Strategy - Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated

6.0 SECONDARY SCHOOL
6.1 Enrolments-retention and attrition
There are 18 state secondary schools (Table 10) and 12 integrated schools (Table 11) in Ngäti
Kahungunu. Of the thirty schools, less than half are co-ed schools perhaps reflecting the large
number of single-sex boarding schools (there are 15) that have traditionally attracted students
from isolated rural areas throughout New Zealand.
The three Mäori boarding schools - Hukarere, Hato Hohepa and Te Aute are among the oldest
in the region, and have a predominantly Mäori student population from many different iwi.
Hukarere and Hato Höhepa remain focussed on providing secondary education for Mäori girls
with Te Aute also accepting female enrolments into what had been originally an all boys’ school
for well over a century until the early 1990’s. Historically Mäori boarding schools have consistently
produced high calibre leaders in all fields of endeavour both in New Zealand and abroad
(Jenkins and Morris-Mathews 1995). Despite the challenges highlighted by recent adverse
publicity (Smith 1996) these schools provide a Mäori centred environment singularly focussed
on the development of Mäori student potential. There is also a small but growing number of
Mäori students enrolled in high decile (9-10) integrated, private and state schools 21 in
Kahungunu that seem to provide a positive environment for Mäori student achievement.
As with national trends, state schools in the lower decile areas in Ngäti Kahungunu have high
Mäori student populations - Wairoa and Flaxmere are examples. The pattern of Mäori school
enrolments (table 12) however, shows a dramatic decrease in retention rates of students after
aged 16 which supports national trends where Mäori are over represented among early school
leavers (TPK 1998) p11. However, since 1994 Mäori retention rates, which had more than
doubled in the decade since 1984 (Davies and Nicholl 1993), have shown a steady downward
trend. Among reasons given for the persistently high levels of Mäori student attrition, include
the practice of retaining some Mäori children from promotion to the standards at primary
(McDonald 1988) ultimately increasing the ages of Mäori students at entry to secondary. Many
students leave around their 16th birthday, the age at which compulsory attendance ends (Hood
1999)p18.
The attrition rates (table 13) indicate Mäori students are leaving well before their senior years
thus reflecting national trends (ibid). There is clear evidence of a crisis in Mäori secondary
education when retention rates are compared alongside the attrition levels of Mäori students
at post-compulsory ages 16-18. Wairoa and Central Hawkes Bay are the only areas where
attrition levels of 16 year olds are below 30%, although Wairoa rates increase expeditiously
for 17 and 18 year olds - 63.1% and 96.7% respectively. Of all Mäori students aged 16 to 18
years, an estimated 62.4% (the median across Kahungunu) have left school essentially reducing
their access to national qualifications, entry to tertiary education and assured employment
opportunities. Taking into account tertiary education providers, Table 14 shows a slight reduction
in attrition rates during these years.
21 See for example, Kimberley Taylor Head Girl and Dux at Woodford House 2001 and is now at Medical School.
2002 Raukura Huata at Iona College, Havelock North won the Korimako Senior English title.
NKII (2002). Kahungunu Speaking Talents. Hoea Ra: Iwi Newsletter, August. Hastings.
In 2001 Sean Tomlins Y11 at Lindisfarne College, Hastings received high marks in School Certificate and was one
of 20 boys invited to proceed to Y13 and sit bursary exams Lander, G.W. (2002).
Academic Tie. Lindisfarne college Newsletter. Hastings.
In 2001 Mahea Tomoana was Head Prefect at Havelock North High. In 2002 Corey Solomon is Head Prefect at St
Johns College.
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