Principals Korero

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Kia ora and welcome to Selwyn School - Te Kura o Herewini 2026

 

My name is Peter Barker, and I am proud to serve as Principal of our wonderful school. We are a family/whānau-oriented kura located in Selwyn Heights. As a dual-medium school, we offer learning in both English (Years 0–6) and total immersion Māori (Years 0–8), all guided by our vision: Together we are Responsible, Respectful, and Right Into Learning. This vision drives our high expectations for both learning and well-being.

Our staff are our greatest resource - capable, confident and committed to doing the very best for each and everyone of our tamariki. All of our teachers are fully trained and qualified and we do not employ LAT (Limited Authority To Teach) 'teachers'. Our students deserve the very best teachers!! 

At Selwyn School, relationships and hauora/well-being sit at the heart of everything we do. We value our partnerships with students, whānau, community, and iwi. As noted by the Education Review Office (2023), our vision—Kia kotahi tātou: Takohanga, Whakanuia, kia ū ki te Ako—empowers high aspirations for learning and hauora for all ākonga.

Whānau place great trust in our school. Students and their families are our clients, and our relationships are open, honest, supportive, and nurturing. A strong culture of whanaungatanga—care, connection, and belonging—defines our kura.

We maintain high expectations for learning and relationships, and we love celebrating our students’ successes. Our approach blends the best of traditional and contemporary practice. In simple terms, we focus on:

   - equipping our learners with the skills, knowledge, and understandings they need for the future

   - strengthening foundation skills such as reading/pānui, writing/tuhituhi, maths/pāngarau, and kōrero in our Māori Medium/Rumaki pathway

   - using digital technologies (Chromebooks, iPads, AI) alongside traditional tools like books, pens, and paper to enrich learning

Our Māori Medium/Rumaki students learn within a strong tuakana–teina culture in a Level 1 immersion environment. This setting supports students to learn, strengthen, and confidently use Te Reo Māori. While 81–100% of teacher instruction is in te reo, some English is used to ensure all students feel supported and no one is left behind.

The Arts, sport, and kapa haka are important aspects of our school identity. Students participate in a wide range of opportunities, including cultural and interschool sporting events. Haka and waiata are part of everyday life across the kura.

Our school site has undergone extensive upgrades, including a full repaint, modernised classrooms, and heat pumps in every room. Our grounds are clean, spacious, and inviting—offering places to learn, play, ride bikes on our 405m track, climb trees, play bullrush, and enjoy scooters.

The best way to experience the wairua of Selwyn School is to visit us in person or explore our Facebook page, which is linked on our website’s front page.

Nau mai, haere mai ki tō tātou kura. We look forward to meeting you.

Peter Barker
MEd (UTas)