Our People

Principal’s Note

We are a Year One to Eight primary schools located in the Catlins, in rural Southland on the Southern Scenic Route, 65km from Invercargill. Tokanui School is set on beautiful grounds with a rural backdrop. 

We pride ourselves on looking after the environment around us and learning about it through our involvement in Enviroschools following the principles of Empowering students, Learning for Sustainability, Māori perspective, Respect for the diversity of people and cultures and Sustainable Communities. 

Tokanui School is part of the Lower Mataura Valley Kāhui Ako. This provides support and opportunities for our tamariki. The Kāhui Ako gives us access to a Social Worker in Schools and Learning Support Coordinators. 

We value whanau involvement in the children’s learning and are well supported by the expertise within our community. The children give back service to their community when opportunities arise. We are extensively resourced and the classrooms provide a fresh modern, flexible learning environment. 

We have a positive school culture where we focus on the values of Excellence, Respect, Integrity and Community. ERIC the dolphin is our mascot and represents the values that our children learn through. 

Providing leadership opportunities for our senior students is a focus as they move into the Year 7 & 8 classroom. 

Our family atmosphere supported through Tuakāna Tēina time builds a happy and kind environment where children feel safe.

-Principal