Mulberry Grove School

06/03/2026

Spectacular weather, awesome tamariki. The annual swimming sports at Mulberry Grove Beach

02/01/2026

🌱 A wee note about our school garden 🌱

Kia ora whānau and community,

With the recent weather, our school garden has been a bit more vulnerable than usual and needs some extra care at the moment. Even over the summer break, staff are regularly watering, weeding, and tending the garden, and during the year our tamariki put a lot of time and effort into raising seedlings and learning how to care for this space. The school also invests in plants, fertiliser, and resources to support this mahi.

Much of what we grow is used or preserved to help supplement our Lunches in Schools programme, so every plant really does count.

We’ve noticed that some vegetables have been taken overnight, and we gently ask that people please check in with the school before harvesting anything. We want to make sure the garden can continue to grow and fulfil its purpose for our tamariki.

This garden is a shared taonga, and we’re grateful to be part of a community that values care, respect, and looking out for one another. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Ngā mihi nui 💚 ( photos for eaxmple)

10/12/2025

🎄 Santa Parade Magic! 🎄

What an awesome day celebrating our island Christmas spirit! Our tamariki were beaming on the Santa Parade float — and we couldn’t have done it without the incredible support of our community.

A HUGE thank you to Great Barrier Cartage and Jill & Wayne Bloor for the loan of the truck and the expert driving. We are so grateful for your generosity and for helping bring the Christmas magic to life for our kids. 🚛✨

Ngā mihi nui also to the Claris Club for all the mahi behind organising the Christmas celebrations — such a wonderful community event!

A special shout-out to Michelle for leading our school dance performances, and to Mikaere, Nancy, Jess, and our amazing teachers for the beautiful mahi with the three-school kapa haka roopu. Our tamariki shone! 🌟💃🕺🎶

Feeling grateful, festive, and proud of our Mulberry Grove whānau and the wider Aotea community. ❤️🎅🏼🎁

18/11/2025

✨ Rangiarua – Te Whare Auaha is officially open! ✨

Today we celebrated the blessing and naming of our new creative space, Rangiarua – The House of Creativity and Innovation.

We were honoured to have kaumātua and kuia from Kawa gift us the name Rangiarua, a woman of great mana with deep ties to Rangitawhiri/Tryphena. Our tamariki will learn more about her story next year with support from Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai o te Aotea.

The skies cleared as our tamariki sang waiata and Rodney Ngawaka led the blessing. Together we moved through the whare, touching each wall with aroha, before speaking the name Rangiarua three times.

After five years of dreaming and planning, this space is a reality — thanks to our incredible staff, Board, whānau, iwi and community. We finished with kaitahi, sharing kai and kōrero in true Aotea style.

Nau mai, haere mai ki Rangiarua.

15/11/2025

🌟 Grand Opening of Rangiarua – Te Whare Auaha! 🌟
The House of Innovation & Creativity

Kia ora whānau,

We know it’s short notice, but we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to lock in a date that works for everyone involved — and we’re excited to finally share it with you!

Mulberry Grove School warmly invites you to the official opening of our new technology/art/science space,
Rangiarua – Te Whare Auaha.
Join us for a blessing and morning tea as we celebrate this beautiful new addition to our kura.

📅 10am, Tuesday 18 November 2025
📍 Mulberry Grove School

Everyone is welcome — students, whānau, community, friends of the school.
If you’re able to come, please flick us an RSVP at [email protected]

We can’t wait to share this special moment with you all. 💚✨

28/10/2025

Wow! What an inspiring Teacher Only Day! Our amazing Aotea educators — from ECE, primary schools, and the Community Learning Hub — came together today for a powerful session with Kathryn Berkett.
We explored how the brain develops, how stress impacts learning, and how understanding neuroscience can strengthen resilience and wellbeing for both kaiako and tamariki.

It was a day filled with lightbulb moments, rich discussion, and shared commitment to growing happy, confident learners across our island. Ngā mihi nui to everyone who contributed to such a positive and energising day of learning and connection.

✨ Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from Kathryn tonight!
📅 6:30–8:00pm
📍 Claris Conference Centre
A great chance for parents, whānau, and the wider community to learn more about how we can support our young people to thrive.

20/10/2025

NZEI STRIKE Official Notice
All NZEI teachers, support staff, and Principal members will be on STRIKE on Thursday, 23rd October.

Mulberry Grove School will be CLOSED for instruction on this day.
Thank you for your support
The Board of Trustees
Mulberry Grove School

02/10/2025

Many Thanks to the Aotea Local Board for their invaluable support for this event we are very grateful. This will be a not to missed opportunity. Transport from the north and south will be available. Contact your kura for more information.

24/09/2025

🔥 What a night! Our hāngi fundraiser was a total sell-out and such an awesome way to celebrate the end of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.

Huge thanks to our legendary hāngi crew and support from — Darren & Paulie Currin, William Parks, Shaun Currie, Bo Davenport, Tim Affleck,Tahi Reid, and Barney Scott a few of many— and to the whole team who helped prep, pack, and serve the meals. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Perfect weather, delicious kai, and that unbeatable community spirit — this is what makes Aotea so special. Ngā mihi nui to everyone who came along and supported Mulberry Grove School 💛

15/09/2025

UPDATE: Selling fast avoid disappointment order yours now!!

Get your orders in quick folks? phone 09 4290 475 or txt 0274241566

14/08/2025

We are so excited we have finally had our new combination basketball/netball hoops installed. These were purchased due to amazing funding from the Aotea/ Great Barrier Island Local Board https://www.facebook.com/GreatBarrierLB.
We are super grateful and the children are loving them. Our 2024 year 8 students then raised funds to have them installed.
Thanks to Shane Bowler and team for getting them up and ready for us. Woohoo.

24/07/2025

Essie, making her debut for Kea Kids news. Awesome

Reporter Essie is at Tight Lines, a fishing competition just for kids on Great Barrier Island, where they’re catching their own fish and chips. Video / Kea Kids News