Te Huruhi School Mara Concept transforms school grounds into an immersive learning landscape that celebrates the cultural heritage of Waiheke Island. Drawing on the metaphor of a waka joumey, the design weaves together outdoor classrooms, indigenous plantings, and play spaces that honor connections between land and sea.

Key elements include an amphitheatre inspired by traditional gathering spaces, mara kai [food gardens) supporting school sustainability, and mira hupara (natural play areas) incorporating traditional Maori play elements. A series of pou (posts) aligned with Matariki stars create ceremonial wayfinding markers, while careful plant selection reflects both ecological function and cultural significance through native species used in congoa (traditional medicine] and education.