I Have A Dream chief executive Shane Gorst and Te Whai Hiringa student Alijah Hemopo at the launch ceremony on Wednesday. Photo / PJ Shepherd
I Have A Dream chief executive Shane Gorst and Te Whai Hiringa student Alijah Hemopo at the launch ceremony on Wednesday. Photo / PJ Shepherd
A new long-term education programme will provide mentors to support about 250 pupils at Flaxmere school Te Whai Hiringa.
A pōwhiri on Wednesday marked the start of the partnership with charitable trust I Have A Dream, in which three fulltime mentors will be based at the school from Term 2.
Known as “Navigators”, the mentors will work with students in Years 0 to 5, providing ongoing academic, social and wellbeing support as part of a wraparound approach involving families and the community to help children thrive.
Te Whai Hiringa is the first school in Hawke’s Bay to partner with the organisation, which has operated for more than two decades in other parts of the country.
“Hawke’s Bay has been part of my working life for many years, so this is a very intentional step for us,” chief executive Shane Gorst said.
“I have seen the strength of this community up close, the pride they have in their whānau and the commitment schools already show each day.
“Bringing I Have A Dream to Flaxmere is about building on that foundation, walking alongside tamariki over time, and helping build confidence in education and opening up future opportunities.”
Te Whai Hiringa pupils at the launch ceremony at Flaxmere Primary School. Photo / PJ Shepherd
Te Whai Hiringa principal Tineka Waitoa Tuala-Fata said the partnership aligned with the school’s existing values.
“This partnership strengthens the work already happening within our kura, wrapping around our tamariki and their whānau in a way that signals genuine, sustained commitment,” she said.
“Our identity is firmly grounded in te ao Māori and connected to Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa. We are intentional about re-indigenising our spaces, our thinking and our practice.”
Te Whai Hiringa principal Tineka Waitoa Tuala-Fata and I Have A Dream chief execuive Shane Gorst. Photo / PJ Shepherd
Under the programme, Navigators will be based in the school daily, working alongside teachers, providing additional learning support, and building one-on-one relationships with pupils to identify where extra support is needed.
They also offer life coaching, connect with whānau, co-ordinate tutoring and mentoring, and link students to opportunities beyond the classroom, including sport, arts, music and cultural activities.
The rollout marks the next step in the organisation’s plan to expand its presence across the North Island.
So far, the trust has supported more than 2500 young people through similar programmes in Whangārei and Upper Hutt, and aims to reach 5000 Dreamers by 2030 and 50,000 nationwide by 2050.
