Kakaramea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kakaramea
|
|
|---|---|
 Kakaramea
Location in Taranaki Region
|
|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Taranaki |
| District | South Taranaki District |
Kakaramea is a small town located in the Taranaki region of New Zealand. It's found in the southern part of Taranaki, which is on the west coast of the North Island. The main road, State Highway 3, goes right through the town. Kakaramea is about 6 kilometers (about 4 miles) north-west of Patea and roughly 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) south-east of Hāwera.
Contents
Understanding Kakaramea's Culture and History
What is a Marae?
A Marae is a special meeting place for Māori people in New Zealand. It's a very important part of Māori culture and community life. Marae are used for many things, like welcoming visitors, holding important meetings, celebrating events, and even for funerals. They often include a meeting house (wharenui), a dining hall (wharekai), and an open space (marae ātea) for formal welcomes.
Pariroa Marae: A Community Hub
In Kakaramea, the local marae is called Pariroa Marae. It's a traditional gathering place for several groups, or hapū, of the Ngāti Ruanui iwi (tribe). These hapū include Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kōtuku, Ngāti Ringi, Ngāti Tūpito, and Tuatahi. The marae has a beautiful meeting house known as Taiporohēnui.
In October 2020, the New Zealand Government helped out with a special project. They provided over $1.4 million from the Provincial Growth Fund to improve Pariroa Marae and other nearby marae. This funding helped to renovate these important cultural sites and also created 35 jobs for people in the area.
Learning in Kakaramea
Kakaramea School: A Place to Grow
Kakaramea is home to Kakaramea School, which is a primary school for students from Year 1 to Year 6 (ages 5 to 11). It's a coeducational school, meaning both boys and girls attend. The school has a "decile rating" of 5, which is a way the government used to measure how well-off the families in a school's area are. A decile 5 means it's about average.
In 2001, the school and the local community celebrated a big milestone: the school's 125th anniversary! This shows how long Kakaramea School has been an important part of the community, helping young people learn and grow for over a century.
