 The school crest was adopted in 1950 when Whakatane High School ended its association with the District High School, established in 1920. The crest depicts “Pohaturoa”, the rock sacred to Ngati Awa in the centre of Whakatane CBD, resplendent in Pohutukawa blossom. The river and sea signify the importance of water as life-sustaining, both spiritually and economically. “Kia Whakatane Au I Ahau” the famous words exclaimed by Wairaka, daughter of Toroa the chief of the ancestral Mataatua canoe, give the school its motto.
School Goals
The school’s future direction is expressed in six key strategic goals:
- to provide a learning environment that challenges and enables all students to develop their potential
- to manage the human, physical and intellectual resources of the school to provide a learning environment to maximise student learning and achievement
- to provide a healthy, safe and caring environment that focuses on students’ responsibilities and rights
- to ensure there is effective communication between the school and its community
- to demonstrate in governance and management an obligation to fulfil the intent of the Treaty of Waitangi
- to be the preferred provider of secondary education in the Eastern Bay of Plenty
Values are principles that are consistent, universal and cross-cultural. They inform and direct our attitudes, behaviour and relationships. The three values that underpin all that we do at Whakatane High School are:
Achievement (Whainga)
Respect (Mana)
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being considerate and appreciative of others
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valuing all members of the school community
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looking after the school environment
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