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School Description
Papakura Central School is set in well-established park-like surroundings
The Board of Trustees, staff, students, and community take pride in maintaining a clean, tidy environment
The school draws from a wide cross-section of the community
The school is located 1km from the commercial and business district
Special environmental features include: auditorium, modern school library, e-library, large swimming pool, shade and deck areas, junior, middle and senior playgrounds, sandpit, two separate Tiger Turf hard courts - one has a large canopy covering, large field spaces and a Bike in Schools track.
We are fortunate to have Otaawhati Park (previously known as Ray Small Park) adjoining the school grounds
Our School Logo
Our logo represents what makes our school unique and links us to the land, water, and history of this whenua.
At the centre is the tūī bird, a symbol of life and connection. The tūī’s song has been heard in this area for many generations.
The kōwhai trees, which you can see at our school entrance and around the grounds, show the natural beauty of our environment. They provide a home for the tūī, linking us to the stories and history of this special place.
The triangle shapes in our logo reflect the patterns found on our school house, Pukekiwiriki te maunga. Pukekiwiriki te maunga, also known as Red Hill, is a place where people once grew important crops like kūmara. It was home to many and served as a lookout point to see others coming from far away.
Our logo shows the Pahurehure Inlet, connecting to the Manukau Harbour. The shape of our schoolhouse, Te Manukanuka o te Hoturoa te moana, matches our new logo.
Otaawhati, our local park renamed from Ray Small Park, means ‘the ebb and flow of water,’ referring to the Pahurehure inlet. This inlet and surrounding waterways hold immense cultural, ancestral, traditional, spiritual, and customary significance to local iwi. It was an ideal site for cultural practices such as mahinga kai (food gathering) and launching waka (canoes), showing how land, water, and people are all connected.
For a very long time, the land our school sits on has been a special place for local iwi. It is full of important stories, culture, and history. Our logo shows this special connection. It honours the past and helps guide the future of our school and everyone in it.
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