Introduction to Te Haerenga

Dilworth Rural Campus – Te Haerenga began life as the de Redcliffes Estate winery in the late 1980s, next to the historic and beautiful Mangatawhiri River and at the base of the Hunua Ranges. Developed into the Hotel du Vin in 1990, the property has since passed through a number of hands until its purchase by the Dilworth Trust Board in 2009, as a means of expanding the school.

Te Haerenga has since been adapted to become a school, which aims to utilise the natural, rural environment and the outdoors to enhance the learning of Year 9 boys at Dilworth.

The boys at Te Haerenga will participate in an extensive curriculum across three equally important strands; academic, outdoors, and spiritual and social life.

Philosophy

Whakatauki

Kua eke i runga i te waka kotahi. Kia mahara tatou kei hoe whakatuara.  Kia tika ano te tikanga o te hoe ki to te hunga o te ihu. Kei huri te hunga o te kei ki te hoe whakamuri.

Now that we have all embarked on one canoe, let us be careful that we do not pull backwards. Let us all pull in the same direction as those who sit in the bows; do not let the people in the stern paddle in the opposite direction.

Welcome to Dilworth Rural Campus – Te Haerenga. We believe that every student comes with a unique set of gifts and talents. It is our aim to provide an environment where boys can discover and explore these talents, through testing themselves in a variety of different contexts.

Students at Te Haerenga will undertake a year-long, learning journey in all aspects of their campus life; academic, outdoors, social and spiritual. The journey will parallel that of a waka journey, with three distinct phases. The first  phase will focus on understanding their place and their role and will be closely guided by the Te Haerenga staff. The second will involve leaving the shore but remaining in safe waters. Students at this stage will be encouraged to take calculated risks and to cope with making mistakes. Finally, in the third phase, the boys will be encouraged to explore new horizons, to spread their wings, all the while reflecting on where they have been and on those who have taken the journey with them.

Boys who leave Te Haerenga will be active learners, confident and resilient, with a strong understanding of their strengths and their place in the world.