Who We Are | Ko Wai Mātou
Te Kura Tuarua o Te Kauaeranga | Thames High School is a Year 9–13, co-educational secondary school serving the town of Thames and the surrounding district.
Established in 1880, we are one of the oldest secondary schools in the Auckland province. Our kura has a proud history of education grounded in place, shaped by the mana whenua of Hauraki and by the communities that have grown through change, challenge and resilience.
Our Place and Whakapapa
Thames High School is situated on whenua gifted by Ngāti Maru for the purpose of education. Ngāti Maru are mana whenua and part of the Marutūahu confederation of iwi, alongside Ngāti Rongoū, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Whanaunga and Ngāti Pāoa.
We honour this tuku whenua through our ongoing commitment to learning, partnership and care for future generations. Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te ao Māori are foundational to who we are as a kura, shaping our values, relationships and responsibilities.
Thames is the largest town on the Coromandel Peninsula and a gateway community with a rich history. Like many regional communities, it has experienced significant economic and demographic change over time. These realities shape the context in which our young people live, learn and plan for their futures, and reinforce the importance of education that is locally grounded and future-focused.
Our Pepeha | Tō Mātou Pepeha
Our pepeha has been gifted by Ngāti Maru as mana whenua. It expresses our connection to place, purpose and one another, and reflects the values that guide us as a kura.
Ko tō mātou pepeha
Ko te puke o Rakamaomao e tārehu
Ko Tikapa te moana e tangi horuhoru
Ko te Waiwhakarurunga e tere rā
Ko Te Puna o Te Pito Mata e tū tohunga,
i te pikinga taumata kia ikeike rawa e
Ko te Kura Tuarua o te Kauaeranga
E tū, whakakōtahi ai tātou ki a tātou
English translation
The hill of Rakamaomao stands shrouded.
Tikapa is the sea, murmuring softly.
Waiwhakarurunga is the river, flowing swiftly.
Te Puna o Te Pito Mata stands with wisdom,
as we climb to great heights, striving to reach the highest summit.
This is Te Kura Tuarua o Te Kauaeranga.
Stand tall, united as one with each other.
This pepeha reminds us that learning is grounded in place, that we rise together, and that our kura exists to support every learner to reach their own taumata — their highest potential.
Our Community and Students
Most of our students come from Thames itself and surrounding coastal and rural communities to the north and south. Our kura reflects the diversity of our community, with a strong bicultural foundation and students identifying with a wide range of ethnicities and iwi.
Māori learners make up a significant proportion of our roll. Alongside Ngāti Maru, students whakapapa to many iwi from across Aotearoa New Zealand, including Ngāpuhi, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Hako, and others. This diversity enriches our kura and strengthens our collective identity.
We are committed to equity, excellence and belonging, and actively promote a culture of manaakitanga — where everyone belongs, everyone matters, and everyone has potential.
Learning, Pathways and Transitions
We offer a broad and balanced curriculum with multiple pathways, recognising that students’ strengths, interests and futures are diverse.
Some students pursue work-based training, apprenticeships or employment, while others choose academic pathways. The university pathway is well supported, and for students who choose this path, University Entrance success rates are consistently high (over 80%). Careful guidance, academic mentoring and strong relationships support students to make informed choices and to transition confidently into further study, training or work.
Students are supported through a personalised pastoral structure. Each student belongs to a rōpū (whānau group) within one of our four houses and is supported by a Rōpū Kaitiaki, who is a key point of connection between school and home.
International Education
Thames High School has an established international education programme and longstanding overseas connections, predominantly form Japan, Germany, Italy and other European countries. We have a strong and valued partnership with Evakona Language School based in Thames. International students are welcomed into the life of the kura and contribute positively to cultural exchange, language learning and global understanding, while being well supported academically and pastorally.
Our Facilities and Resources
Thames High School operates from a single site, purposefully developed to support learning, culture, sport and community connection. Our facilities include:
- Te Puna o Te Pito Mata, our wharenui — the heart of our kura
- Modernised classrooms and refurbished science laboratories
- A gymnasium and specialist learning spaces
- Strong digital infrastructure to support blended learning
Community Facilities and Partnerships
A key strength of our school is our partnership with Thames-Coromandel District Council and the wider community, which enables student access to the Jack McLean Community Recreation Centre.
Together with our own on-site gymnasium, this partnership provides two full gym spaces, offering superb facilities for Health and Physical Education, sport and wellbeing. For a school of our size, access to this level of high-quality recreational and fitness infrastructure is remarkable and significantly enhances learning opportunities for students.
This partnership reflects the strength of our community connections and our shared commitment to supporting the health, wellbeing and active lifestyles of young people.
Partnership and Engagement
Our community is our strength.
Ko tō mātou hapori tō mātou kaha.
We value strong partnerships with whānau, iwi and the wider community, and actively seek community voice to inform our strategic direction and school improvement.
This includes:
- Regular consultation and community surveys
- A Te Ao Māori Strategic Ōhu, strengthening iwi and whānau input
- Our Friends and Whānau group, supporting connection, dialogue and shared understanding
Our Commitment
Grounded in place, guided by values, and focused on the future, Te Kura Tuarua o Te Kauaeranga | Thames High School is committed to growing confident, capable and connected young people who are prepared to choose pathways that suit who they are and who they want to become.
Our community is our strength — and together, we help our young people thrive.
Ko tō mātou hapori tō mātou kaha.
