A fivefold increase in regular student attendance has earned Kaihere School a national education award.
The rural Hauraki school won the Excellence in Student Engagement and Attendance category at the inaugural 2026 New Zealand Education Excellence Awards.
Announced at a ceremony held at Parliament in Wellington on June 24, Kaihere School was commended by the Ministry of Education for demonstrating the power of “deeply committed, community-centred leadership”, and creating a place where students felt valued and whānau felt connected.
The school’s regular attendance rate lifted from 13 per cent at the end of 2024 to close to 80 per cent in just one term.
Principal Ngaire Harris said it was a result of focusing on place, purpose, and people.
“We cleaned up and re-landscaped our grounds from the entrance way to every classroom and office so that the school felt like somewhere you would want to be,” she told The Profile.
“Our core purpose is learning in the classroom, and we redesigned and expanded our curriculum to ensure it was engaging, purposeful, and responded to the kids’ interests.
“In terms of people, we simply welcomed anyone and everyone through the gates who felt they had a talent and time to contribute. When children see their place being cared for, their learning being valued, and their community standing alongside them, then they want to be at school.”
Ngaire said the award reflected the efforts of a community built on “good people working hard” – pointing to the past 18 months in which volunteers contributed “countless hours” to landscaping, painting, cleaning, mowing, maintaining the school’s swimming pool, and donating sports gear and classroom resources.
“Not just parents, but also those who have had in the past, children and grandchildren who attended Kaihere School, and many who were not in any way connected to our school but were happy to contribute to our common purpose.”
She said the award was “a deeply proud moment” for the entire community, with the school’s first reaction to the win being “a mixture of pride, gratitude, and genuine emotion”.
“For staff, students, and parents, the award is a powerful acknowledgement of everyone’s commitment, with a clear message that their work is seen and valued.
“The award isn’t something we see as belonging to the school alone – it belongs to generations of staff, parents, whānau, trustees, and the wider community who believed and continue to believe in Kaihere School,” she said.
The 2026 inaugural awards ceremony took place at Parliament in Wellington on June 24 and was attended by Minister of Education Hon Erica Stanford.
The awards recognise schools making an exceptional difference for their learners, educators, and communities, with Kaihere School also receiving a $20,000 prize.
BY KELLEY TANTAU
Kaihere School principal Ngaire Harris, right, and teacher Sarah Koch outside Parliament in Wellington, where the school won a national education award. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
