Pyes Pa School was first established in 1935 after the old school at Ngawaro was relocated to where our school is situated today.  Later on this building - a single classroom with a cold water tap in the porch and a donkey stove inside - was used as a dental clinic, and later as a Playcentre.  In 1956 the building was moved back to Ngawaro to serve as the present clubrooms for the Ngawaro Golf Course.

In early days Pyes Pa School served a developing rural community.  From an opening roll of 5 the school gradually grew.  Along with the increasing roll came the addition of new buildings - from the 'old' block to which the present administration area is attached - to the newer two roomed block in 1969.  With the increasing demand for land in area Pyes Pa School has continued to grow to its present roll of 135.

The legend of Taurikura has special significance to the school and to the local area.  Our entranceway mural depicts this story, and a 5 metre long sculpture of Taurikura stands proudly at the main gate.

A long time ago, in the Omanawa district, there used to be a Maori village situated on the cliff tops overlooking a gorge with a flowing river far below.  If the village existed today it would probably be in the Taumata Road region.  In this village lived a puhi, a chief's daughter named Taurikura, who was a woman of high rank.  Her village was called Kahakaharoa.  Taurikura was very spoiled, she had grown up expecting everything to be done for her.

One day Taurikura's grandfather asked her to get him some water from the river.  He was far too weak and old to climb down the steep track himself.  Taurikura should have obeyed her grandfather but instead she refused to go, telling her koro she was too tired.

Her grandfather was very thirsty, so, in desperation he decided to fetch the water himself.  He climbed down the steep track to the river carrying his empty gourd.  Eventually he reached the river and was able to quench his thirst.  He then filled his gourd and carried it back up to the pa.

Taurikura, seeing that her grandfather had water in his gourd when he returned to the pa, demanded that she be allowed it for herself.  Her grandfather, unable to believe how cheeky his mokopuna was, became angry with her, telling her that she was selfish and that he was very disappointed in her.  Turning his back on his granddaughter he returned to his whare.

Taurikua was filled with embarrassment and shame, she knew she had behaved badly towards her grandfather.  Feeling that she could no longer face her tribe she left the village carrying a kit of charms with her.

Later that night she crept down to the river and changed herself into a ngarara, a creature resembling a lizard.  She swam downstream towards Tauranga Moana, past the estuary of Waikareao, on past Matarawa ( the old name for Judea), past Motupae and out into Tauranga Moana.  She swam on past the mountain known as Mauao, beyond Matakana, stopping finally, exhausted, on the rocky island of Karewa.

Keeping her lizard form so that no one would ever recognise her, Taurikura stayed on Karewa where she became the ancestor of the tuatara, a special type of lizard who share their nests with mutton birds, found only on Karewa.

Taurikura is especially remembered at Judea where she can be seen in the carved poupou at the meeting house Tamateapokaiwhenua.  There is a carved portrait of Taurikura, the cheeky girl, who is the ancestor of the tuatara of Karewa.