Lakeview School celebrated the historic opening within its gates on Friday of the first multi-agency and Maori-based community support centre of its kind in New Zealand.
Principal Ed Hodgkinson said the school and Maori health group Te Hauora Runanga Wairarapa were lead partners in the Ka Rewa Centre, which also partners Rangitane o Wairarapa and Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa iwi authorities, Whaiora Maori health service, the Supporting Families agency, and Regional Public Health.
![Ka Rewa Centre partners sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the pilot community support initiative. PHOTO/NATHAN CROMBIE](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/XKUPYO7CFC2JHSQXTVIIPB6ZCQ.jpg?auth=078c775225326219dad1ad6a3c1f71a097ebf1efc56748a425ebfc8bb804b463&width=16&height=10&quality=70&smart=true)
Mr Hodgkinson was aware of only one other similar programme, which is running out of Victory School in Nelson, although the Ka Rewa Centre was uniquely "rooted in kaupapa Maori" and followed Maori precepts and principles of health, welfare and well-being.
Community representatives at the opening sat alongside the entire school roll of 410 pupils, from new entrants through to Year 8, and included Lakeview School trustee Nevin Broughton, Masterton District councillor Jonathan Hooker, Rangitane o Wairarapa kaumatua Mike Kawana, Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa chief executive PJ Devonshire, Te Hauora manager Louise Ihimaera, Regional Public Health manager Peter Gush and scores of parents and school community members.