Te Arawaru is our Māori Immersion Learning Team led by Melissa Seumanu. Te Arawaru consists of two Reo Rua classes (Years 1-2) and four Rumaki classes (Years 3-6). All classes in Te Arawaru teach from the Māori Curriculum - Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.
It was from the peak, Te Arawaru, that the Rangitane people on both sides of the ranges would light fires to signal their relatives on the other side when assistance was needed in times of trouble. Te Arawaru also refers to the whetū marama, the eight-pointed star and the eight pathways.


Melissa Seumanu
Mauri ora ki te whānau o te kura nei, ā tēnā tātou.
Ki te taha o tōku kuia, he uri tēnei nō ngā iwi o Ngāti Raukawa te au ki te tonga me Ngāti Apa, nō ngā waka o Tainui me Kurahaupō.
I tipu ake au ki tō mātou ūkaipō, ko Ōhinepuhiawe, ki te taha o tō mātou whare tūpuna o Parewahawaha.
Ko te awa rā e whakairo ana i te whenua, hei tautīnei mō tō mātou hapū o Ngāti Parewahawaha, ko Rangitīkei.
Ki te taha o tōku koroua, he uri hoki ahau nō Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngai Tūhoe me Ngāti Kahungunu.
Ko Alefaio tōku hoa tāne. I ahu mai ia i te whenua tapu o Savai’i kei Hāmoa, ā, ko te ingoa tawhito, ko Hawaiki. Tokorima ā māua tamariki. Tēnā tātou.
I am so lucky to be working with our tamariki in Te Arawaru in the Whare with Year 3/4 this year. I am passionate about Māori achievement and empowering our tamariki to enter the world confident and proud of their Māoritanga. I enjoy being part of the journey watching our tamariki grow in their mātauranga Māori, creativity and most of all, in who they are.
Tēnā toutou.
MELISSA SEUMANU Team Leader

Mere Waru
Ko Ngongotaha te maunga
Ko Awahou te awa
Ko Te Arawa te iwi
Ko Ngāti Rangiwewehi me Ngāti Whakaue oku hapū
No Rotorua ahau
Ko Mere Waru tōku ingoa
Tēnā koutou katoa,
Akomanga 23 is a very special place to come and learn in a te reo immersion setting. I enjoy researching Maori history and am very passionate about Mahi Toi and DIY projects around the home with a Māori twist. Quality whanau time is always a must in our household.
Mere Waru Pouako

Therese Keo
Ko Whakateretere te maunga
Ko Waima te awa
Ko Ngatokimatawhaorua te waka
Ko Ngapuhi te iwi
Ko Te Mahurehure te hapu
Ko Tuhirangi te marae
Ko Phally tōku hoa rangatira
Ko Tiana rāua ko Tayla āku tamariki
Tēnā koutou katoa, I enjoy working with children and watching them learn and grow. My home is a multicultural home. I am fluent in both Te Reo Māori and English. My children speak Khmer, Te Reo Māori and English. I look forward to working with you to make your child's learning experience fun.
Therese Keo Pouako

Maraea Durie
Tēnā koutou e te whānau, He uri tēnei nō Ngāti Kauwhata, Rangitane, Ngāti Porou, Ngai Te Rangi hoki. Ko Maraea Durie ahau.
Maraea Durie Pouako

Hine Rokosuka
Ko Hikurangi te maunga,
Ko Waiapu te awa,
Ko Horouta te waka,
Ko Awatere te marae,
Ko Tuwhakairiora te hapu,
Ko Ngati Porou te iwi,
Ko Hine Moana Rokosuka tōku ingoa.
Tena ra koutou katoa.
Kia ora e te whanau o te Kura Tuatahi o Papaioea. I am blessed to be teaching in Akomanga 23 this year working with our Year 4/5 students. It is a privilege working at this kura with a wonderful and supportive staff. This is my 4th year here and I love being apart of this whānau. Our door is always open and look forward to seeing you this year.
Naku noa,
Whaea Hine
Naku noa,
Whaea Hine
Hine Rokosuka Pouako
TE ARAWARU
learning in Māori since 1995.
Reo Rua and Rumaki learning at Central Normal School Te Kura Tuatahi o Papaioea