Top coaches glad to attend Far North academy

Ruth Aitken couldn't say no to the Far North invitation. Photo / Peter de Graaf

You never know until you ask, Louisa Mutu reckons - so she asked.

And so it was that two of New Zealand's sporting greats, All Blacks coach Graham Henry and Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken, opened a sports academy at a tiny Far North school yesterday.

The academy is part of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Whangaroa, which has just 102 pupils at a newly built school on the hill above Matauri Bay. Principal Louisa Mutu said it was a way of turning around dismal failure, of Maori boys especially, in mainstream schools. The academy's initial focus would be on rugby, netball and athletics, and it would be compulsory for Year 9 and up.

Students had academic lessons every morning and sports every afternoon except Friday. When trialled last year, the competition and exertion "worked wonders" for boys' academic achievement.

As for how she persuaded Mr Henry and Mrs Aitken?

"I just asked. My Dad always said, 'If you don't ask, you won't know'. They've taken personal time to come here especially for the opening, because they think it's a great dream."

Mrs Aitken said Miss Mutu's invitation was so full of pride and passion she couldn't refuse.

"She painted a picture of something really special going on here," she said.

Mr Henry said the kura had every chance of producing future All Blacks, but that was not the point.

"The point is they want to improve and give these kids better opportunities in life. You have to take your hat off to them."

Joining roughly 300 pupils, teachers, family members, kuia and kaumatua at yesterday's opening was a 15-strong delegation from Argentina.

Newly-appointed Sports Academy director Deon Wagner took an Argentinian wife two weeks ago, so his in-laws, still visiting New Zealand, were welcomed as guests. Mr Wagner taught previously at Springbank School and Westmount College, both near Kerikeri, and Kings College in Auckland. He has also coached Northland and Auckland Roller Mills rugby teams.

The kura has pupils from Years 1 to 10 and is expanding to Year 15.

It is full immersion from Years 1 to 8, with English, maths and science taught in English in Years 9 to 15.

Prospective wharekura (secondary) students have to pass academic and physical fitness tests and be of good character, Miss Mutu said.