Tumuaki Welcome
Tēnā koutou katoa,
Nau mai, haere mai ki tō tātou kura.
It is my honour to welcome you to our kura.
I descend proudly from the Götaland Vikings of Southern Sweeten, the rangatira lines of Ngāti Porou, and ffrom the ancient whakapapa of Ruawaipū, one of the first iwi to settle Te Tai Rāwhiti. My whānau has a long tradition of Māori success in education, including our connection to Sir Apirana Ngata, my great-great-grand uncle. Our Porahu homestead, nestled between Rangitukia and Awatere on the East Cape, remains a place rich in memory and whakapapa.
Education, both formal and in the world around us, has shaped my life. My grandfather, who left school at 12, was my first kaiako. From him, I learned to hold fast to my identity and strive for excellence, not just for myself, but for my whānau, hapū, iwi.
Although I faced challenges in learning with reading, writing, spelling, and maths I stand today as Principal of our amazing school. My journey has deepened my passion for creating spaces where all learners, can thrive. I am committed to ensuring equity is not just a word, but a lived experience for every child — recognising that true equity honours the promises made in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
As part of this commitment, I continue my own learning journey through research and study, to better serve our tamariki and whānau.
I warmly invite you to join us at our kura, where every learner is valued, every story is honoured, and every journey matters.
Nō reira, nau mai, haere mai, tauti mai!
Nāku iti nei,
Dr Ricardo Fox