At 91 years young, Kawekura Samuels has lived through nearly a century of change in Ōkere Falls. This weekend, she will celebrate a milestone close to her heart as Whangamarino Kura ā Iwi marks 100 years of education, whakapapa and community.

Born in Rāhui Pōkeka on 13 October 1935, Kawe was brought to Ngāti Pikiao by Te Puea Hērangi and raised in Ōkere by her father, Pokiha Hemana, and mother, Tepora Hemana.

Her school memories take her back to a time before tar sealed roads, when she walked or rode her horse to class. Under headmaster Mr Shut and teacher Mrs McCloud, she formed friendships and played basketball with classmates Rea Newton and Whetu Whata.

“Those were happy days, full of laughter, friendship, and learning,” Kawe recalls.

Over the decades, she witnessed generations come and go, changes across Ōkere and the leadership of Māori Kings and Queens. Her own story reflects a family legacy rooted in Ngāti Pikiao, with connections extending back to Tainui.

Kawe later married Johnny Samuels, also of Ngāti Pikiao, and together they raised their children, Pikiao, Tepora, Marama and Joanne. She sent her children to Whangamarino too, continuing her whānau’s connection to the kura across generations.

Today, Kawe still lives in the home her parents built at Ōkere Falls, a tangible link to the people and place that have shaped her life.

As Whangamarino celebrates its centenary, Kawe has a message for the students who will carry the kura into its next century.

“Always look after one another, and never forget where you come from.”

Her words capture the spirit of the milestone: a celebration of the generations who have come before, the whānau who sustain the kura today, and the future of Ngāti Pikiao tamariki.

Source: Whangamarino 1926–2026: Centenary Jubilee, Whangamarino Kura ā Iwi. Kawekura Samuels’ memories supplied through her centenary registration form.

Historical background: Whangamarino Kura official history.


Whangamarino Kura celebrates 100 years

Whangamarino Kura will celebrate 100 years of education, whakapapa and community this weekend, bringing generations of Ngāti Pikiao together at Ōkere Falls.

A highlight of Saturday’s celebrations will be the launch of Taranui waka, honouring the kura’s enduring connection to the waterways of Lake Rotoiti and the generations who travelled by waka to school.

The centenary will also celebrate the people who have shaped the kura over the past century, including former students like Kawekura Samuels, who remembers walking or riding her horse to school along dirt roads. Now 90, she later sent her own children to Whangamarino.

The three day programme, from Friday 23 October to Sunday 25 October, includes kapa haka, school tours, kai, whanaungatanga and opportunities to share memories.

The milestone is an opportunity to celebrate more than a school’s history. It recognises the whakapapa, identity and community that have sustained Whangamarino for 100 years and will continue to guide its future.