Te Kura Awhitu: New Tūhoe Charter School Opening Term 2, 2026
Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced that Te Kura Awhitu, sponsored by the Tūhoe Charitable Trust, will open as a charter school by Term 2, 2026, offering a full Māori immersion education rooted in Tūhoe traditions and the Te Urewera environment. The charter school model provides autonomy for Tūhoe to embed their language, values, and cultural identity into the curriculum while maintaining strict accountability and using NCEA achievement standards. This initiative reflects a significant step in the Crown-Tūhoe relationship and is part of a broader expansion of charter schools in New Zealand, with 19 schools planned by 2026 and more expected to open or convert.