About Our School

Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Kura Tuatahi o Hokitika - Welcome to Hokitika Primary School.

Hokitika Primary is 'A Cool Little School in a Cool Little Town’. You'll find us nestled in the seaside town of Hokitika, on the West Coast of Te Waipounamu.

We are a small co-educational primary school with a big heart. We cater to children in Years 0 - 6 (ages 5 to 11) in English medium and in Māori medium (more information about these below).

In 2024 we have around 200 students learning across ten classrooms. We provide our students with a personalised and holistic learning experience within a safe and welcoming school environment that enables them to thrive and realise their full potential.

At HPS we are committed to several key programmes:

Our vision is that our students flourish now and in their future lives as confident global citizens who are open, kind and collaborative, think creatively, reason critically and communicate effectively.

The Staff, Board of Trustees and I are proud to have created a fun, safe, welcoming environment for all tamariki (children) and their whānau (family, extended family, and caregivers). We look forward to welcoming new whānau to our school.

Nāku noa, nā

Traci Liddall, Principal.

English medium and Māori medium, tell me more...

English medium simply means the students are instructed in English for most of the day. Māori medium simply means the students are instructed in te reo Māori for most of the day. 

We work hard to not use the terms 'mainstream' and 'bilingual' - because we don't want to perpetuate the idea that English need be the 'normal' language of education, and because our Māori-medium classrooms do not deliver bilingual education - they deliver immersion education in one language, te reo Māori.  (English is included as a minority language of communication). 

Our Māori medium classrooms are collectively known as Rūma Rumaki Reo. Our English medium classrooms are known by their individual class names. See all of our classes and kaiako (teachers) here.

Uniform:

Uniform items with our HPS logo can be bought from The Warehouse in Greymouth. Please note it is not compulsory to have the items with the logo. Non-branded clothing is fine. We usually have some second-hand uniform items for sale at school.

What's special at our school?