On January 1st 2023 

Brookfield School will become officially known as:

Te Kura o Manunui 

Our Name

From 2019 our school whānau, community and hapū (subtribe) Ngāi Tamarawaho started to work together on the new school planning. Together hapū, parents, whānau, community and our tamariki were welcome to contribute ideas, wishes and aspirations. 

It was evident early in the planning process that they wanted to change the school name Brookfield.  Ideas were shared at many meetings and history of the area was shared by many kaumātua.  The school worked intensively with hapū kaumātua; Maora Reed, Des Tata, Tamatī Tata, and Peri Kohu. 

In 2020 our school whānau, community and hapū (subtribe) Ngāi Tamarawaho all were able to vote.  It revealed that the majority of our whānau wanted to change the name to Te Kura o Manunui.  

Te Pā o Manunui
The village of Manunui  

The land that both the current and new school sites was once a Pā or village. This area extends far and wide around the Ōtūmoetai. This was known as Te Pā o Manunui. 

 Manunui Pā was located at the peak of the ridge

Ngā Manu Nui
The multitudes of manu (birds) 

The area is known for the multitudes of native birds that can be found here. We have depicted this meaning naming our hall Manunui and through the names of the houses in our kura.

Our House Leaders with their flags and colours

Te Kōrero o Hinawa
The local hapū story of Hinawa

Hinawa (Hinewa) comes from Manunui Pā and Ngāi Tamarawaho. She is the wahine spoken of in the waiata ‘E Rere Te Karoro’ where she loved a man (Hoani/Wani) but their love was not to be. She set forth on a journey from Te Pā o Manunui towards the Waikareao (Estuary). On her path, a karoro (the black-backed gull) hovered over keeping a safe eye on her. 

Mate atu he tētēkura, ara mai he tētēkura

As one frond perishes, another grows in it's place

We are currently in the process of building our new kura to cater to our growing community. In February 2022, we officiated the turning of the soild at our new site, 72 Millers Road, with kaumātua of Ngāi Tamarawaho (Mana Whenua), school staff, students and whānau. 

Pictured left to right: Ngaere Durie (Tumuaki), Des Tata (Kaumatua), Peata Thompson (Kaiako), Reef Thompson (Ākonga)

Earthworks  for the new Te Kura o Manunui. Photo: Bob Tulloch/Sunlive 

 

Lastly, the name Brookfield would be gifted to any organisation that moves into the site on 20 Millers Road.  We have not been told who will move in once we have left the site.