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Download AudioTipene St Stephens, a newly reopened Māori-Pasifika boys’ boarding school led by co-tumuaki Nathan Durie, has seen a dramatic rise in literacy since becoming a charter school-highlighting the power of culturally affirming, flexible education tailored to student potential. After 25 years off the books, Tipene / St Stephen’s School has reopened under New Zealand’s new charter school model, with a mission to better serve Māori and Pacific boys and reshape secondary boarding school education.
TIPENE is the former St Stephen’s Māori Boys School, founded in 1884 but closed in 2000 due to financial, health and safety, and bullying issues. The school has now been re-established under a charter school contract between the Charter School Agency and Te Tuara Trust. It is a boarding school for Māori & Pacific boys in Years 9-13. The school reopens in Term 1 2025, starting with younger years first.
The aim is to tackle underachievement especially among Māori boys, using culturally responsive pedagogy and designing an environment that feels like a “home away from home”. The school expects to grow its student roll over time, with ambitions of reaching 250-300 students once fully operational. The boarding model allows for flexibility in schedule and learning – for example breaking up long classroom sessions, using the outdoors and cultural context, integrating physical activity, arts, digital tech and cultural learning.
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