The achievements of our community and our whānau’s determination for over 25 years to develop an educational model that is relevant to their children have inspired our culturally responsive, critical, social justice, approach to learning and the curriculum.

Early Foundations

• Clover Park Middle School opened as an Intermediate School on 29 January 1980.

• Te Whānau o Tupuranga was established in 1986 as a "Taha Māori" unit and became a full Māori bilingual unit in 1988.

• In 1990, parents began advocating for continuity beyond Year 8.

• In 1995, Clover Park was approved to become a Form 1–4 (Years 7–10) Middle School.

Cultural Identity and Growth

• In 1986, teaching spaces were renamed to reflect cultural groups:

  • Fonuamalu (Tongan)

  • Kimiora (Cook Islands)

  • Lumana’i (Samoan)

• Lumana’i became a Samoan bilingual unit in 1992.

• Kimiora grew as a centre for Cook Islands Māori culture from 1994/95.

• Fonuamalu developed a Tongan bilingual programme in 2005.

• A new block, Amataga ("beginning"), opened in 1986 and became the Kia Aroha Marae in 1998.

Te Whānau o Tupuranga: Māori Bilingual Education

• In 2001, former Tupuranga students returned, seeking senior Māori education.

• After years of advocacy, Te Whānau o Tupuranga gained approval as a designated character Māori bilingual secondary school in 2005.

• Officially opened for Years 7–13 on 7 February 2006, becoming the first of its kind in New Zealand.

Campus Redevelopment

• Separate boards were created in 2005 and merged again with one principal in 2006.

• Campus redevelopment began in October 2007 and was completed by early 2009.

• New facilities included:

  • New classrooms

  • Whānau and Pasifika Centres

  • Gymnasium

  • Refurbished Marae

  • Library and administration block

Clover Park to Kia Aroha College

• In August 2007, Pasifika parents requested the extension of bilingual education to Year 13.

• After consultation and 96% support, an application was submitted in April 2008.

• Although it was declined initially in December 2009, the merger of Clover Park and Tupuranga was approved in September 2010.

• Kia Aroha College officially opened on 28 January 2011.

Our Structure

• Te Whānau o Tupuranga: Centre for Māori education.

• Fanau Pasifika: Centre for Samoan, Tongan, and Cook Islands education.

Kia Aroha Campus Today

• In 2023, Kia Aroha College became Kia Aroha Campus with the addition of Years 0–6 in Te Whānau o Tupuranga.

• In 2024, Fonuamalu (Tongan Bilingual Unit) also extended to Years 0–6.

• Today, Kia Aroha Campus offers bilingual Māori and Pasifika education from new entrants through to Year 13 — a unique and proud legacy.