Tamatea High School Matariki Legacy Project

Tamatea High School is fundraising for our Matariki Ngahere (Forest) Legacy Project. We have been awarded a Matariki Tu Rākau Grant from the New Zealand Forest Service, to plant 2600 trees and Rongoā Māori plants at our school the plants.

So far, we have raised $26,000 of the total $40,000 required for power, irrigation, plants, protection, mulch and landscaping. We are committed to raising the remaining amount and any contribution to this legacy project will be gratefully received.

We are holding a planting event on Thursday 23rd June which will be combined with our Matariki celebrations. For the planting we are working with the local hapū to bless the ngahere and lead the dedication.

Please contact the school on 06 844 6600 if you would like to come and help us plant.

Our plantings and our celebrations will be commemorating the national Matariki holiday and Heitia and Marg Hiha who made significant contributions to our local community. Heitia was the deputy principal at Wycliffe Intermediate, which was a feeder school for Tamatea High. He was a kaumātua of four local marae and gave many years of service to the Napier City Council in the role of kaumātua. He was also a Māori All Black and was awarded an ONZM. As well as being a dedicated teacher, Marg Hiha played hockey for New Zealand and was recognised as a life member of Hockey NZ. She was also awarded an MNZM for service to sport.