At Puriri School we strive to provide an environment that offers purposeful learning experiences in nature and whānau rooms to empower life long learners. 
We are true to ourselves, others and our environment.

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 two whānau rooms:
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 year 1-4 class 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 the name of our year 5 - 8 class at Pūriri School 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 each of our whānau rooms.
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 2022 Charter here
charter_2022.pdf
You can read our 2021 Charter here
​charter_2021.pdf
You can read our 2020 Charter here
charter_2020_pdf.pdf
You can read our latest ERO Report here
puriri_school_ero_review.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, an exciting adventure playground, River School, a native forest area, tennis courts, skate park, cricket nets and a large playing field all under the protection of our beautiful Puriri tree.

We pride ourselves on being a nurturing environment where all our tamariki and their whānau are  valued and recognised as individuals with different strengths.

Our Staff
Our Principal / Tumuaki - Mrs Lydia Lester (Fully NZ Registered)
​ Pepe Tuna  - Years 5-8 - Mrs Elizabeth Edlin (Fully  NZ Registered)
Mokoroa - Years 1-4  Mr Solomon De Thierry ( Fully NZ Registered)

Specialist Literacy Support - Mary Popping
Our Office Administrator - Tessa De La Rive Box
Our Cleaner/ Caretaker is Bernadette Murray 


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.
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