Multiple national rugby champions Manukura have only 191 students but a special spirit and a former Black Fern as coach. Adam Julian reports
Manukura in Palmerston North, despite lacking its own rugby field, proudly holds the distinction of having the top secondary school girls’ rugby team in New Zealand. The team clinched victories in both the National Top Four First XV and Condor Sevens championships, successfully defending both titles in 2023. Additionally, Manukura secured the touch nationals earlier in the month, showcasing its dominance in multiple formats.
Notably, Manukura’s journey extends beyond New Zealand, as the team participated in the Sanix world youth rugby tournament in Japan in April. Despite only one squad member being from Palmerston North, the team’s achievements have garnered attention. However, the school faces unique challenges, lacking boarding facilities and residing on a temporary site at the old Massey Teachers’ College in Hokowhitu.
The school’s impressive rugby journey began in 2015, introducing girls’ rugby with a ten-aside team. Under the coaching of Black Fern Janna Vaughan, and later Kristina Sue, the team achieved its first national Top Four appearance in 2018. Manukura boasts notable rugby alumni, including Black Ferns Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Charmaine Smith, and Australian international Carys Dallinger.
Beyond rugby success, Manukura challenges the trend of underachievement in Māori education. Graduates like Adrienne Ashby, Lucy Brown, and Bella Rawiri have excelled academically and professionally, becoming a doctor, earning health science degrees, and contributing to rugby at various levels.
Manukura attributes its success to a unique approach, combining academic excellence, cultural commitment, and high-performance sports. The school follows a distinctive daily schedule, incorporating conditioning, academic blocks, and dedicated sports and cultural sessions. The rugby program includes individualized performance plans aimed at holistic player development.
While the school’s “special character school” designation allows flexibility in pursuing its values, Manukura places a strong emphasis on tikanga principles and mandatory Te Reo Māori in Year 9. The school’s success, according to Kristina Sue, is rooted in creating a safe and enjoyable learning environment through sports, fostering self-expression, questioning norms, and developing confidence.
Manukura is set to undergo expansion with new buildings worth $30 million, reflecting its growing influence and the increasing demand for enrollment. Despite not having boarding facilities, students often commute for hours, forging strong bonds with fellow students, families, and teachers.
In addressing challenges and disciplinary issues, Manukura adopts a restorative approach, rooted in Māori traditions, fostering open dialogue and resolution. The school’s approach has created a positive culture, where students express gratitude, exhibit good manners, and embody leadership qualities.
Manukura’s rugby success story includes overcoming setbacks, as seen in their strategic video revisions and a revised game plan leading to victory after an initial loss to St Mary’s College (Wellington). As founders Nathan Durie and Yvette McCausland-Durie transition to reopening Māori boys boarding school St Stephens, Manukura aims to uphold its tikanga and continue its success under the guidance of their visionary and altruistic leadership.