Motatau School
The first school in our takiwā was known as Opahi Public School, located on a small piece of whenua between Ōpahi and Motatau. Built by local hands in 1914, it was a humble slab hut nestled in one of the largest swamps in the north. Surrounded by towering pines that whistled whenever Tāwhirimātea sent a breeze through the valley, the school became fondly remembered as “The Pines.”
Schooling in those days was never easy. Staff and tamariki faced constant challenges, flooding, sickness, two world wars, irregular attendance, epidemics, and the daily demands of life that required tamariki to help their whānau on the whenua.
In 1917, a new school building was erected and soon after converted to a Native School. That same year, the name was officially changed to Motatau School.
By 1934, the school had been relocated to 18 Henare Road, where it still stands today. Although the original building now rests as part of Motatau Marae, its walls and floors still echo with the voices and footsteps of the many tamariki and whānau who once filled its spaces.
In 2009, when the Ministry of Education sought to close small rural schools, Motatau was one of nine under threat. It was the only one that stood its ground, ensuring the doors of our kura remained open.
In 2011, following a shift in whānau and board leadership, the kura embraced a new identity and name: Te Kura Reo Rua o Motatau.
Now, in 2024, we reflect on this journey, from humble beginnings to the kura we know today. With 55 tamariki on the roll, 4 kaiako, 4 classes, and dedicated support staff, we continue to weave the whāriki first laid down by those who came before us.
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