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Our school plans to establish a Whare Wānanga, a special place of learning that will embrace the theme of ‘Te Mana Wāhine’ or ‘The Empowerment of Women.’ The teaching and stories within this space will support and nurture our school values of Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Kaitiakitanga, Excellence, Respect, Integrity, Compassion, and Fairness.

The Whare Wānanga will be the realisation of a longed-for and much-anticipated space, providing a place that our students can call their own ‘Tūrangawaewae’, a ‘place of belonging’ that celebrates not only ‘Te Ao Māori’, the Māori World’ but ‘Te Ao Whānui’, all our school cultures.

Westlake Girls alumna Emma Jane Ormsby (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Porou), in conjunction with a talented group of our art students, has created Māori sculpture artworks. These artworks are prototypes of the planned inside panels of the Whare Wānanga. The prototype designs centre around Māori female Atua and celestial whakapapa.

The school is funding the design, architecture, engineering and construction of the Whare Wānanga. We are seeking funding to create the sculptural artworks that will form the posts and inside panels of the Whare Wānanga. Based on the prototypes developed, the cost to complete the interior is estimated to be $350,000.00.

Read more about the project here – Te Whare Wananga Brochure.

Take part in our Golf Day – funds go towards the dressing of the Whare!

It’s not just about the money!

Please help us turn this important element of our project into a reality. If you’d like to be involved in other ways, for example, by volunteering or sharing your relevant experience, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Marie McKerrow if you are interested in supporting this project in non-financial ways.