Tēnā koutou katoa, The Board and staff of Te Kura Whaiora ki te Tonga / The Southern Health School affirm its commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its enactment in our strategic direction and practice.
Te Kura Whaiora ki te Tonga is proud of our whakapapa, connection and relationships with mana whenua across Te Waipounamu. As a Board, and an organisation, we uphold the values of Manaakitanga, Whakaoranga, Pono, Kotahitanga and Whanaungatanga in our relationships and our professional practice. These relationships and these values guide us to act with integrity and provide a place in our kura for all tamariki / rangatahi and their family/whānau; a place that allows them to achieve their version of success as the culturally located people they are. We are intentional in doing this.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the foundational document that defines how we can all live together in Aotearoa / New Zealand, in unity and with aroha for one another. When our kura upholds Te Tiriti, our tamariki and rangatahi learn about partnership and respect for different cultures, our history, the mātauranga of all of our peoples, and all of the official languages of this country.
Keeping Te Tiriti at the heart of our kura also means:
● Māori students feel seen, supported and proud of who they are.
● All ākonga get a deeper understanding of our shared history and culture.
● We strengthen relationships with local iwi, hapū and Māori whānau.
● All ākonga will learn and feel that they truly belong in this country.
We continue to provide a holistic approach to education and wellbeing to support the tamariki and rangatahi in our care, and their families/whānau.
Ngā Manaakitanga
Southern Health School Board
