Kaupapa Māori

28% of Westland High School students identify as Māori and the school and community respect the unique status of tangata whenua.

The mana whenua iwi of the Westland region imbue the community and the school with the knowledge and pathways to a sense of respectful belonging within the community that has formed on their whenua (lands) awa (rivers) moana (seas) and with their iwi (peoples). We acknowledge as a school the privilege we have as we partner with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae and Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, our mana whenua iwi, in the awhi tautoko (support and endorsement) of the students and whānau, and staff and whānau, of Westland High.

We have a number of partnership initiatives to ensure all students at Westland High School can experience te Ao Māori, the world of Māori, in their learning and life experience with us.

As part of our commitment to developing student achievement in and with Māori, Westland High School has adopted Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (the Māori medium curriculum) so that bilingual students, as well as any student who chooses to, can study in te reo (the Māori language) and within matauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), tikanga Māori (Māori custom) and ahuatanga Māori (Māori characteristics).

The school also has an active kapa haka group where students can learn Māori culture by participation and performance.