At dawn on Monday, we came together and officially named our school Wharekai.
The name Te Kohuaarangi, gifted by our Head Girl Atarehia Hema, reflects the mist that rises between the earth and the heavens, a space of connection, reflection, and unity. Her whakaaro captures the essence of what this wharekai represents for all students of Te Kauwhata College.
Te Kohuaarangi sits like a mist looking over the ridge of Te Kauwhata, connecting the land and the sky. It evokes the times when Hine Pukohurangi came down to the earth, moments that were traditionally for rest, waananga, sharing, and kai together. In this way, the wharekai becomes a signal, a place to go in, slow down, and connect with each other.
More than just a place to eat, Te Kohuaarangi is a welcoming and grounding space, where all students feel a sense of belonging. Like the gentle mist settling across the land, it is a space of manaakitanga, care, and support.
The rising mist also represents growth, potential, and new beginnings. Each day, as students gather here, they bring their own journeys, aspirations, and stories. Te Kohuaarangi reminds us that even in times of uncertainty, connection and community guide us.
This name reflects student voice and leadership, acknowledging the vision of our Head Girl while celebrating the collective identity of our kura. Te Kohuaarangi is for everyone, a place to come together, share kai, koorero, and waananga, and grow as one.
“Ka kai tahi maatou i Te Kohuaarangi, ka tupu te whanaungatanga, ka ora te wairua.”
At Te Kohuaarangi we eat together, relationships grow, and the spirit is nourished.
