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 Schools
The Manaiakalani cluster of 13 schools forms a community of learning in Tāmaki ie. Glen Innes, Pt England, Panmure.
From our origins in 2006, we have grappled over the years with challenges like:
"How to make school engaging, empowering and success making?"
And, "How do we guarantee equity and access so that our young people have the same opportunities for 3rd millennium citizenship as everybody else?"
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:
Pedagogy
Kaupapa
Development Streams
Cybersmart delivery
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
Kāhui Ako
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."
"Schools and kura within a Kāhui Ako are resourced to allow time for teachers to work together on tackling their achievement challenges, drawing on each other’s skills, knowledge and experience. Kāhui Ako also open up new career opportunities for principals and teachers."
FOR MORE ABOUT OUR STORY

Research since 2013
Professor Stuart McNaughton
Director - Woolf Fisher Research Centre
Design to Engage
Dorothy Burt
Manaiakalani Programme Lead
Equity and Access
Russell Burt
Principal, Pt England School
Engagement, the Hook
Aireen Ah Kui
Tamaki Primary
iPads, Apps and Google Drive
Clarelle Davis
Year 3 Teacher, Pt England School
Infrastructure & Devices
Kent Somerville
Associate Principal, Pt England School