Pursuant to section 154A(1)(a) of the Education Act 1989 (“Act”), I hereby designate Mātihetihe School (1046), in Mitimiti, as a designated character school under section 156 of the Act. This designation will take effect from 1 January 2020.

Mātihetihe School will operate the following aims, purposes and objectives, which will together constitute its designated character:

Mātihetihe School will integrate Māori medium education into all aspects of the School in the local dialect and ensure that, alongside Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, this is consistent with the cultural practices of local hapū Te Hokokeha and Te Tao Mauī as well as the Rarawa iwi.

Its curriculum wīll specifically reflect the mātauranga and tikanga of the tangata whenua of Mitimiti and iwi o Te Rarawa.

It will operate as a kura-ā-iwi.

The Mātihetihe School Board of Trustees will be constituted under section 94 of the Act.

Dated at Wellington this 20th day of November 2019.

Hon CHRIS HIPKINS, Minister of Education.