It goes without saying that Māori culture and performing arts are an integral part of the curriculum of Te Wharekura o Mauao. All tauira are expected to participate and learn these skills, as part of their preparation ‘Kia tū rangatira au i te Ao!’

The whole kura spends time once a week learning waiata, haka and ngā mahi-ā-rēhia of Tauranga Moana and the motu, to develop their confidence in and knowledge of these important tikanga. When our 280+ students are singing together in harmonies at our weekly Hui Ōkawa, it lifts the roof and the spirit soars!

We have three kapa haka who represent Te Wharekura o Mauao at regional and national competitions; Te Kura Pōtiki, Te Manu Taupua o Mauao and Te Reo Whakakoko o Mauao. Te Kapa Haka o Te Kura Pōtiki represented the Tauranga Moana region at many Te Mana Kuratahi. Te Reo Whakakoko o Mauao has represented Mataatua at Ngā Kapa Haka Tuarua o Aotearoa in 2016, 2018, 2022, 2024 and 2026 and competition to gain a place in this kapa is strong. Te Reo Whakakoko was also selected to perform at the 2020 Nationals (which was postponed due to COVID19). In 2019 and 2025 a second senior kapa, Te Manu Taupua, performed at the Mataatua regional competitions. In 2026, Te Reo Whakakoko o Mauao reached the finals day of nationals and placed 7th overall.

We also have a very high quality intra-school speech competition for Ngā Manu Kōrero which continues to develop young orators who perform with excellence at regional and national level. In the Wharekura's 16 years of existence, we have had students win regional Mataatua speech competitions and represent our kura and region at the national Ngā Manau Kōrero in all four categories: Korimako, Tā Turi Kaara, Te Rāwhiti Ihaka and Pei Te Hurunui Jones. In 2024 and 2025, one of our tauira placed in the top three for the national Tā Turi Kaara speech competition.

Students participate in wānanga mau rākau of Ngā Hīhī o Kōpuparapara throughout the course of the year, spending up to one week on Tauranga marae living and breathing the art of mau taiaha. We also hold mau rākau classes every week, have our own taua, Te Whare Ururoa, and the Whare Tū Taua o Tauranga Moana trains in our gymansium.