Our Vision
Puriri School will be a place of learning which encourages and enables students to celebrate shared growth and success through an inclusive and innovative environment.
Our Students will be lifelong learners and have the confidence to embrace their uniqueness while making lasting connections with their peers, local community, and the world around them.
Our Students will leave our kura as responsible and respectful Tiriti partners who value, respect and share indigenous knowledge and advocate courageously and respectfully for social justice and Equity.
Ākonga Māori will leave our kura having experienced educational and cultural success as Māori with strong and confident ngākau (heart).


Our School
We are a small country kura, this is great for our student's learning because it allows for plenty of opportunities for individual learning programmes and means that our students needs are always met.

We have one whānau room:
Mokoroa
Mokoroa is the name of the native NZ Pūriri caterpillar that thrives under the protection of the great Pūriri tree, it  spends years gaining nourishment from the tree, growing in the safety and strong structure of the tree itself. It is also the name of our group of year 1-4 students at Pūriri School where students are nourished by their learning with a strong numeracy and literacy programme, they  grow and build on their learning in active ways.

​Pepe Tuna
Pepe Tuna is the name of the native NZ Pūriri Moth that thrives under the protection of the great Pūriri tree, after spending years gaining nourishment it spreads its wings and soars. It is also what our cluster of year 5 - 8 students at Pūriri School go by.  Where students take flight, building on their foundational learning to become strong, active learners.

We are a Level 4B Te Reo Maori Kura - This means we use teach and use Te Reo for a minimum of three hours a week in our whānau rooms. This includes Kapa haka, integrated Te Reo learning, Te kaupapa o te ata (starting the day with mihi mihi, karakia, pepeha and waiata).

We live our school pepeha through connecting our tamariki with our awa as part of our wonderful River School Programme
Te Kura o Awa

You can read our Strategic Plan here
Pūriri School Strategic Plan 2024-2026.pdf
​You can read our Annual Implementation Plan Here
Pūriri School Annual Plan 2024.pdf
​You can read our Annual Report and Financial Statements and Audit Report documents Here
Puriri School Annual Report
Puriri School Financial Statements and Audit Report
​You can read our latest ERO Report here
Puriri School ERO Review 2019.pdf 

You can follow our adventures on facebook on the Positively Puriri Page

We are 11 km south of Thames,  just off State Highway 26 and are easily accessed from both Thames and Paeroa. 

Puriri School was opened in 1878 and as a result has a long history of quality rural education.  
We are one of the oldest Primary Schools in the country!

We are lucky to boast spacious grounds, a huge swimming pool, River School, a native forest area, tennis courts, skate park, and a large playing field all under the protection of our beautiful Puriri tree.

Te manu e kai ana i te Puriri, nōna te ngahere; Te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga, nōna te ao. 
The bird who partakes of the Puriri berry owns the forest, the bird who partakes of education owns the world.
We provide opportunities to foster a love of learning in each individual child enabling them to express themselves through their mahi

Our Staff
Our Principal / Tumuaki - Mrs Lydia Lester (Fully NZ Registered)
​ Principal Release/ Kaiako - Years 5-8 - Mrs Elizabeth Edlin (Fully  NZ Registered)

Teacher Aide - Mary Popping
Our Office Administrator - Tessa De La Rive Box

Our Board of Trustees   
Our Board Presiding Member is Bonnie O'Keefe
Our Board Members are:
Bonnie O'Keefe
Kathryn Brown
Tom Smith
Samantha Lee
Amy Yates
Lydia Lester
Libby Edlin



Our Year 8 Graduates leave our school being community minded individuals who are active learners with a strong sense of self.