The school was established by whanau of the kohanga reo and became the first total immersion Maori school built in the Hastings and Napier area, starting with only 12 students.
Matua Hook, who has been with the kohanga reo since it first opened 24 years ago, says: "It has taken a lot of hard work and dedication from the whanau to reach this point."
It is a school in which every subject is taught only in the Maori language with the aim of creating an environment where the children are nurtured in their Maori culture and heritage.
"It is a dream come true to be able to fulfil the long-time dream of not only my father [Tama Huata] but also of my grandfather, Canon Wi Te Tau Huata," says Narelle Huata.
The move to Havelock North has met negativity from some in the community who question its relevance to the Havelock North area and whether another school is needed.
Wainohu says moving the school to a larger site is a positive move for the community and, most importantly, for the students and their families.
"We are having to turn whanau away because we are over-capacitated," and the new kura will allow those students who had previously missed out, an opportunity to enrol.
"The school is unique in that it will be the only education model of its kind in the North Island where it caters to the need of the child from the 'womb to the tomb'." It will have a kohanga reo, a primary school, intermediate, a high school, whare wananga (tertiary) and a taikura, which is a special kaumatua (elder) component for the education of people 50 years plus.
Wainohu says the model "will aim to provide a seamless education that is about Maori, by Maori, with Maori".
The move means it can expand the current roll of 70 students to 300 with room to cater to 600 in the future.
Plans for construction are under way with the aim to have the new buildings up and running by the end of 2017.
