Nukumea Primary School, Orewa
As families plan their new homes in Woodlands Rise, Orewa, the community of Nukumea School is growing alongside their children.
Nukumea School opened at the beginning of 2023 in temporary classrooms while its buildings were completed and Foundation Principal Steve Mouldley says this year classes began in their new purpose-built premises.
“We are growing with the community. The school is the heart and centre of the community,” Steve says.
There were 13 pupils last year and 40 when this school year started. Now the roll has grown to 60 children.
Nukumea School’s enrolment zone means families who purchase land to build a home in the neighbourhood can enrol their kids immediately.
“This means new entrants can start here instead of starting at another school and then moving, and older children can start here and meet the friends they will have in this community as they grow up,” Steve says.
Woodlands Rise subdivision is next door to the school and Generation Homes offers a collection of house and land packages to suit a diverse range of buyers’ lifestyles and plans.
There are free-standing homes, terrace-style properties and places with dual living or income opportunities that also suit those who live and work in the house.
“At Woodlands Rise, we’re not just building homes, we’re building a community for like-minded people,” Generation Homes Auckland North Managing Director Peter Suckling says.
“By planning the subdivision with thoughtfully designed walkways that meander through lush landscapes through to the native woodlands area, residents are connected to both nature and their neighbours,” Peter says.
Steve Moudley, Principal
Nukumea School Students
The school is the conduit for neighbours to meet each other.
“It’s a wonderful community with all new housing. Eventually this will be a big suburb, but now the school has the atmosphere of a country school,” Steve says.
“Recently, we had a garden working bee and most of our parents and their kids were here on a rainy Saturday establishing our veggie gardens,” Steve says.
“When we held our first school disco, the kids were in the hall dancing and the parents were in the staff room socialising.
“When school finishes for the day, families are hanging around in the playground. Or the kids go home and come back on their bikes to ride around or play on the basketball court,” he says.
Most of the pupils walk, scoot or bike to school.
Nukumea School Students
Woodlands Rise Development next to Nukumea School
Nestled on a gently sloping and sunny site, Woodlands Rise subdivision offers a lifestyle that embraces nature, community, and comfort.
The sun shines, and sets, over the protected native woodlands area and park.
The local iwi gifted the school its name to reflect the local river, which is an essential element of the school identity and shown in the school logo, Steve says.
Pupils are already involved in monitoring the environmental health of the river and can walk there when their curriculum focuses on it.
As the school has a small roll, it has a special nurturing environment. The older students know the younger ones and they play together and look after them, he says.
A block of class time is scheduled together for all the kids on Fridays. Last term it was time for sport, and this winter the students are interacting in robotics lessons.
The Nukumea School students are all thriving, happy and making amazing progress on their literacy and numeracy skills, Steve says.
“Our community is diverse and the school values are becoming the community values.”
Woodlands Rise is a location that provides the best of nature with the tranquillity of a native woodlands outlook. Plus, Orewa offers a bustling lifestyle of vibrant cafes, restaurants, and shopping, with a beach on the doorstep.
Commuters living in the community have easy motorway access to the Harbour Bridge and Auckland CBD to make their drive-time a breeze.
Woodlands Rise Development at Sunrise