Tec@ St Peter’s

Kōwhai Tec (Te Kāuru): Empowering Futures Through Real-World Experience

At Kōwhai Tec (Te Kāuru), located at St Peter’s Church in Parkvale, we offer a dynamic tertiary education program for students typically aged 18-21. Our core mission is to equip young adults with the essential skills and opportunities they need to thrive independently and transition successfully beyond school.

We have a high level of dedicated staff supporting students both in the classroom and throughout our community-based activities. These staff actively focus on helping students develop autonomy over their decisions and increasing independence in all aspects of their learning journey.

Our approach prioritises practical, hands-on learning through deep community involvement and valuable work experience. We actively develop the five Key Competencies of the New Zealand Curriculum: Thinking, Relating to others, Using language, symbols, and texts, Managing self, and Participating and contributing.

Our specialised Life Skills programme covers crucial areas like home skills, recreation, communication & advocacy, vocational components, and includes functional math and literacy programmes. Students actively engage in a diverse range of community-based activities, including cooking, ICT lessons, self-defense at Kupa International Karate, Special Olympics and Games, Shake, Rattle & Roll, Complex Forme Gym/Pool sessions, and regular access to local libraries, shops, and parks, as well as yoga.

For our students with very high needs, Kōwhai Tec runs a parallel sensory-based program featuring therapies such as Sensory Story Massage, music therapy, physiotherapy, and hydrotherapy. Every student benefits from access to Kōwhai specialists and therapists. Their learning is shaped by yearly IEP goals or longer-term PATH planning (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope), a visual, facilitated tool that helps define aspirations and create a clear path to a positive future. We also conduct termly check-ins on Transition plans, collaboratively developed with whānau and outside transition providers to identify key priorities and achieve the best outcomes according to their desired goals.

Our Commitment to Work Experience & Community Integration

Work experience at Kōwhai Tec is a cornerstone of our programme, carefully designed to foster independence and build capabilities. If appropriate, TEC students are exposed to a variety of work experience opportunities, starting with developing the foundational skills for accessing a work environment and progressing towards more focused placements as their confidence grows.

Kei te whakanui o matou akonga! We celebrate our students’ journey as they gain valuable skills and confidence, preparing them for a fulfilling life beyond Kōwhai School.