Our Kura
Te Pākihi o Maru provides a warm, welcoming environment where children can realise their social, emotional, and academic potential. We’re an active part of the local community, and our doors are always open for whānau to visit!
About
Te Pākihi o Maru: Deep Roots, Vibrant Learning
Welcome to our vibrant primary school (Years 1-6) located in Oamaru. We are committed to the holistic development of every child in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Our name, Te Pākihi o Maru, was gifted by Te Runanga o Moeraki, connecting us deeply to our place by acknowledging the flat land (Pākihi) and the deity of the sea (Maru) along the Oamaru coast.
We champion success through diverse learning opportunities, small class sizes, and a strong focus on literacy, numeracy, and community values. Join us in a learning journey where hearts and minds grow together.
Free school lunches
Te Pākihi o Maru offers free school lunches and breakfast in school, and keep our class sizes small to enable focused learning.
Sense of whānau
Children are welcomed into one of four whānau groups, which provide a wonderful sense of whānau within the school and develop leadership skills in our older tamariki.
Multi-cultural
Te Pākihi o Maru is proudly multi-cultural, and we offer specialised support for children who have English as a second language.
History
Our kura was established in 1872 as Oamaru North School, and officially became Te Pākihi o Maru in April 2021.
The name Te Pākihi o Maru was gifted to the school by Ngai Tahu and represents our positive way forward.
Te Pākihi refers to the vast open land our school was built on, and Maru is a figure of importance in Ngai Tahu history - a name you might recognise in the towns of Oamaru and Timaru. Together, our name means ‘The wide-open plains of Maru’ - a celebration of the land our school is situated on and an acknowledgement of our local iwi and tikanga.
