Join Us!
JOIN OUR STAFF
We are currently looking for more amazing kaiako to join our growing team
TE WHĀNAU O TUPURANGA:
Y0-6 Rūmaki (L1) and
7-13 Reo Rua (L3).
Kia Aroha's unique character fosters a learning environment where cultural identity, customs, language, and knowledge are foundational. The philosophy and practice of whānau are integral to our approach, with students actively participating in curriculum content and planning. Parents and whānau are involved in their children's education through culturally familiar and empowering methods. We maintain high expectations for excellence in learning, supporting students' future choices through culturally sustaining practices.
As a Tangata Whenua led environment, we encourage the support of Tangata Tiriti and Tangata Moana for Māori aspirations. Toitū te Tiriti is a core principle that we promote daily. Our commitment extends to delivering an indigenised curriculum, challenging prevailing colonial norms and white spaces common in schools across Aotearoa.
We are seeking educators who are dedicated to upholding and respecting our kaupapa, committed to active engagement within our distinctive environment where Māori identity is intrinsic, and enthusiastic about collaborating with colleagues—including many former students who embody the success of our educational philosophy. With our Y0-13 Area School continuing to expand, we invite passionate and dedicated adults to join our team. Demonstrated commitment to Māori Medium learning environments is essential, and adherence to the special character of the school is a condition of employment.
Applications must include:
A detailed CV (emailed to the Principal, hard copies will not be accepted)
A cover Letter describing any Management Unit requests or areas you may want to take a lead role in. (emailed to the Principal, hard copies will not be accepted)
A completed ONLINE Application Form – this summarises your CV. Please ensure that all questions not covered in your CV are answered in this application form. Names and contact details of at least two referees (part of ONLINE APPLICATION)
Applications close Wednesday 29th October 2025 at 12noon and should be sent to the Principal: Haley Milne, haley.milne@kiaaroha.school.nz
NAU MAI, HAERE MAI
Before you enrol with us it is important that you understand that we are a Designated Character School. This means that we are not just a normal, everyday, mainstream school. We do things differently on purpose because historically, normal, every day mainstream schools have not always worked for Māori and Pasifika young people.
Understanding and committing to our Designated Character is a condition of enrolment.
You are not just enrolling your child at a school - you are joining our family. Being part of our whānau is a responsibility. Your loyalty, support, involvement, and commitment to our kaupapa should be as visible as ours!
We do not follow a colonial curriculum. We cover the entire New Zealand curriculum, just like all other schools - but we teach it in a very indigenous way. Curriculum areas like Performing Arts and our target languages are compulsory.
Being Māori / Samoan / Tongan is recognised and celebrated every day and in everything we do. There is no “Language Week” for one week - we celebrate who we are every day of the year.
Our Year 0-6 spaces are total immersion - Te Reo Māori / Lea Faka Tonga / Gagana Samoa (coming soon). English is not our priority language in these spaces.
All our Y7-13 learning spaces are bilingual / dual medium. Our target languages are spoken, taught, and learnt every day. English is also spoken, taught, and learnt every day from Year 7.
Students who are not Māori, Samoan or Tongan are welcome at our school. They will be enrolled in the Māori Dual Medium unit Te Whānau o Tupuranga so that they are able to get a better understanding of the indigenous people of Aotearoa and learn a little Māori Language in the process.
All students start NCEA at Year 10.
UNIFORM
Uniform expectations - see below
ENROL NOW
We are now taking online enrolments.
STEP 1: Please complete this enrolment form ENROLMENT FORM
STEP 2: We will contact you to ask you to come in to talk to us about your child and bring in copies of Birth Certificates and any other documentation.
STEP 3: We will inform you of the result of your application. If your application is accepted, we will also ask you to complete a detailed medical form, an internet permissions slip and a laptop contract enabling your child to use our student laptops.
Please do not proceed with this enrolment if you are not committed to, or don’t agree with, our differences, or if your motivation to join us is convenience.
