Background Information
The School District And Community
Ouruhia Model School was opened in 1914 as a sole charge school. In 2014 was the celebration of Ouruhia Model School centennial. Our school is often paid glowing compliments by visitors, relief teachers, College lecturers, outdoor education venues, and ERO. Families represent a diversity of occupational backgrounds, not just the traditional horticultural, orchard and farm-based occupations one would expect in this area.
The earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 affected our school catchment quite drastically with the red-zoning of Brooklands. As a result, the school roll has dropped. We are looking forward to the enrolments to come.
Ouruhia Model School was opened in 1914 as a sole charge school. In 2014 was the celebration of Ouruhia Model School centennial. Our school is often paid glowing compliments by visitors, relief teachers, College lecturers, outdoor education venues, and ERO. Families represent a diversity of occupational backgrounds, not just the traditional horticultural, orchard and farm-based occupations one would expect in this area.
The earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 affected our school catchment quite drastically with the red-zoning of Brooklands. As a result, the school roll has dropped. We are looking forward to the enrolments to come.
What Is A Model School?
Ouruhia became a 'Model' School in the 1950's. A “model country school” is one which trainee teachers (students) attend for a period of practical teaching experience under the guidance of experienced teaching staff. Trainees observe and assist the regular teacher and also take classes. Recently we have had students from the University of Canterbury, Te Rito Maioha and overseas. Our good facilities, qualified teaching staff, pleasant grounds and closeness to town, Ouruhia Model School is well suited for this role. Our multi-level classes provide students with teaching experiences similar to those they would meet in a rural school. Schools which have this close association with the University of Canterbury are called "normal schools" (if they are urban) and "model schools" (if they are rural).
Ouruhia became a 'Model' School in the 1950's. A “model country school” is one which trainee teachers (students) attend for a period of practical teaching experience under the guidance of experienced teaching staff. Trainees observe and assist the regular teacher and also take classes. Recently we have had students from the University of Canterbury, Te Rito Maioha and overseas. Our good facilities, qualified teaching staff, pleasant grounds and closeness to town, Ouruhia Model School is well suited for this role. Our multi-level classes provide students with teaching experiences similar to those they would meet in a rural school. Schools which have this close association with the University of Canterbury are called "normal schools" (if they are urban) and "model schools" (if they are rural).
School Facilities
Ouruhia Model School is a three teacher school with children from Yr 0/1 - Yr 8. We have classrooms that allow students to make decisions about the preferred way they wish to learn. We have a school pool and large field area.
Ouruhia Model School is a three teacher school with children from Yr 0/1 - Yr 8. We have classrooms that allow students to make decisions about the preferred way they wish to learn. We have a school pool and large field area.
Where does the name Ouruhia come from?
We have been learning about our school’s name, and the history and connection of the people who lived here many years ago. We have adopted this pepeha, which is used in introductions to establish identity and heritage.
Ko Maukatere te mauka
Ko Pūharakekenui te awa
Nō Urihia te whenua
Nō Tūāhuriri te takiwā
Ko Ōuruhia te kura
We are learning that Maukatere/Mt Grey is our mountain; Pūharakekenui/Styx is our river; the land was first settled by Urihia (sometimes called Uruhia), the son of the chief who founded Kaiapoi pā; we are in Ngai Tūāhuriri’s region; and our school is named Ouruhia Model School.
We have recently renamed the learning rooms as Pūharakekenui, Te Riu o te Aika Kawa and Waimakariri. These are waterways that lead to Komaka a Te KaiKai a Waro / Pegasus Bay.
Ōuruhia is a kāinga mahinga kai (food-gathering place) located near the Waimakariri River. Ōuruhia takes its name from Uruhia — a son of Tūrākautahi, one of the principal Ngāi Tūāhuriri rangatira who led the Ngāi Tūhaitara migration to Canterbury and established Kaiapoi pā. During the 1879 Smith-Nairn Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Ngāi Tahu land claims, Taare Wi Teihoka and others from Ngāi Tūāhuriri recorded Ōuruhia as a kāinga mahinga kai where the wide range of foods gathered included tuna (eel), paraki (smelt), waharoa (horse mussel), inanga (whitebait), mata (juvenile whitebait), pātiki (flounder), aua (yellow-eyed mullet), panako, kōkopu (native trout), pipiki (fish sp.), pūtakitaki (paradise duck), pārera (grey duck), raipo (New Zealand scaup), tataa (brown teal), totokipio (New Zealand dabchick), tutu, pora (“Māori turnip”), aruhe (bracken fernroot) and kōrari (the flower stalk of harakeke.
References:
We have been learning about our school’s name, and the history and connection of the people who lived here many years ago. We have adopted this pepeha, which is used in introductions to establish identity and heritage.
Ko Maukatere te mauka
Ko Pūharakekenui te awa
Nō Urihia te whenua
Nō Tūāhuriri te takiwā
Ko Ōuruhia te kura
We are learning that Maukatere/Mt Grey is our mountain; Pūharakekenui/Styx is our river; the land was first settled by Urihia (sometimes called Uruhia), the son of the chief who founded Kaiapoi pā; we are in Ngai Tūāhuriri’s region; and our school is named Ouruhia Model School.
We have recently renamed the learning rooms as Pūharakekenui, Te Riu o te Aika Kawa and Waimakariri. These are waterways that lead to Komaka a Te KaiKai a Waro / Pegasus Bay.
Ōuruhia is a kāinga mahinga kai (food-gathering place) located near the Waimakariri River. Ōuruhia takes its name from Uruhia — a son of Tūrākautahi, one of the principal Ngāi Tūāhuriri rangatira who led the Ngāi Tūhaitara migration to Canterbury and established Kaiapoi pā. During the 1879 Smith-Nairn Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Ngāi Tahu land claims, Taare Wi Teihoka and others from Ngāi Tūāhuriri recorded Ōuruhia as a kāinga mahinga kai where the wide range of foods gathered included tuna (eel), paraki (smelt), waharoa (horse mussel), inanga (whitebait), mata (juvenile whitebait), pātiki (flounder), aua (yellow-eyed mullet), panako, kōkopu (native trout), pipiki (fish sp.), pūtakitaki (paradise duck), pārera (grey duck), raipo (New Zealand scaup), tataa (brown teal), totokipio (New Zealand dabchick), tutu, pora (“Māori turnip”), aruhe (bracken fernroot) and kōrari (the flower stalk of harakeke.
References:
- Taylor, W.A. (1952) Lore and history of the South Island Māori. Christchurch, N.Z.: Bascands. P30.
- Teihoka, Taare Wi (1880) cited in Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori (1989) Ngai Tahu 1880. H.K. Taiaroa. (Unpublished typescript. [English translation of two original notebooks in Te Reo Maori of place names related to mahinga kai compiled by H.K. Taiaroa in 1880 from information provided by Ngai Tahu informants]. Ngai Tahu Archive. Collection 140. Item D301, Box 102, D. Wai-27. Wai-27 Doc – R30 – Book “Ngai Tahu 1880.” Macmillan Brown Library Archives Collection. P37:29.
- Tau, R.T.M [2006] Submission on Ouruhia - Ka Putahi (Kaputone) by Rawiri Te Maire Ltd. [Report prepared for Christchurch City Council to inform development of the Belfast Area Plan.]
- Taylor, W.A. cited in Beattie, J.H. (1945) Maori place names of Canterbury: including one thousand hitherto unpublished names collected from Maori sources. Dunedin, N.Z. : Printed by the Otago Daily Times and Witness Newspapers. P104.
- Beattie, J.H. (1945) Maori place names of Canterbury: including one thousand hitherto unpublished names collected from Maori sources. Dunedin, N.Z. : Printed by the Otago Daily Times and Witness Newspapers. P101.