About 

Manaiakalani  

Manaiakalani, the hook from heaven, has become known throughout New Zealand for supporting schools in low socio-economic and challenged communities to achieve significant improvements in student outcomes, realising learners' potential and enabling digital citizenship for tauira and their whānau. The following descriptors provide entry points for learning more about Manaiakalani and the people in this partnership.

Manaiakalani Cluster

The Manaiakalani Cluster of schools is a community of learning in Tāmaki; Glen Innes, Pt England and Panmure, in the city of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Since 2006, this group has grappled with making school engaging, empowering and successful for our population of largely Māori and Pasifika learners. We have a constant focus on equity and access to give our young people excellent opportunities to be fully empowered citizens. 

The Manaiakalani Cluster was recognised by the Ministry of Education as a Kāhui Ako in 2016. 

Russell Burt, Principal, Pt England School convenes the Manaiakalani Cluster

The Manaiakalani Programme

The Manaiakalani Programme (TMP) provides the framework for what we do as we educators and learners in a digital world.

It incorporates:


A team of facilitators and specialists support the implementation of the Manaiakalani Programme locally in Tāmaki and around the country, through the Manaiakalani Programme Outreach.


Dorothy Burt leads this team.

Manaiakalani Education Trust

The Manaiakalani Education Trust (MET) began in 2011 to form a governance body in support of TMP and in service of the schools

"We are fundamentally challenging the notion in New Zealand that just because you’re living in a low socio economic community you can’t do well at school."

Chair of Manaiakalani Pat Snedden believes living in a low socio economic community should not determine your education outcomes nor your opportunities.

Pat Snedden, Chair,

Manaiakalani Education Trust

Manaiakalani Network

Manaiakalani Kāhui Ako

From 2015 schools and clusters from around the country have created a network of schools implementing the Manaiakalani Programme. In 2022 the network has grown to 120 schools.

In 2016 the Ministry of Education recognised the Manaiakalani schools as a Kāhui Ako - "a group of education and training providers, that form around their students’ education pathway, working together to help students achieve their full potential."

FOR MORE ABOUT OUR STORY

Watch these videos

This series of videos have been created to tell our story


Stuart.mp4

Research since 2013

Professor Stuart McNaughton

Director - Woolf Fisher Research Centre
Dorothy Engagement 3.mp4

Design to Engage

Dorothy Burt

Manaiakalani Programme Lead
Russell Equity and Access.mp4

Equity and Access

Russell Burt

Principal, Pt England School
Aireen Engagement 1.mp4

Engagement, the Hook

Aireen Ah Kui

Tamaki Primary
Clarelle.mp4

iPads, Apps and Google Drive

Clarelle Davis 

Year 3 Teacher, Pt England School
Kent.mp4

Infrastructure & Devices

Kent Somerville

Associate Principal, Pt England School