Our Taumata

There are six Taumata, Houses at Hutt Valley High School are each named after a prominent Wellington maunga, mountain peak or landmark.

House groups are made up of students from Years 9 to 13. Each house has two student leaders. Houses compete against each other in a range of activities throughout the year events. In 2025, house points were awarded for Athletics Day, netball, 4-way volleyball, quizzes, Attitude to Learning grades, House Has Talent, and for the first time, the Penalty Shootout with the Wellington Phoenix!

Students compete for the beautiful house trophy (pictured below). The waka was designed and carved by Terry Deverell, a former staff member. Over the last six years, the House trophy has been won by Matairangi (2020), Pukeatua (2021), Remutaka (2022), Tararua (2023 & 2024), and Ōrongorongo (2025).

Pictured: 2025 Ōrongorongo House Leaders, Macy Warbrick (13WR) and Luke Belcher (13WR), proudly accepting the trophy on behalf of their house.

The House system is coordinated by Deputy Principal, Grace Wright and the twelve senior students appointed as House Leaders each year.

The Story of Each House

Matairangi

Core Message – Protect and Serve

2026 Matairangi House Leaders – Giselle Hotop & Gus Neilson

We wear the joyous yellow of the kōwhai. Our maunga is Matairangi, the southern peak which can be seen from the school field. This is the point where the bird spirit of the taniwha Whātaitai alighted after his death. There it watched over the harbour below and this is our kaupapa, to keep watching over the needs of others, to serve and protect.

Ōrongorongo

Core Message – Strength in Diversity

2026 Ōrongorongo House Leaders – Tess Gendall & Olly Goodfellow

We meet beneath the pink of the evening sky, bathing the pōhutukawa lined Ōrongorongo Valley in its gentle light. This awa, which runs through the southern Remutaka ranges, is a shapeshifter, one day a gentle trickle, the next a raging torrent. We derive our kaupapa from this image. It is in our diversity that we find our strength.

Pukeariki

Core Message – Growth Through Challenge

2026 Pukeariki House Leaders – Belinda Chapman & James Bowen

We are proud to assemble beneath the colour purple and the symbol of the nīkau. Our maunga is Pukeariki, the range that defines the western margin of the Hutt Valley. The nīkau starts as a small flax-like palm and grows over time into a beautiful tree. This is our kaupapa, celebrating who we are and who we will become.

Pukeatua

Core Message – Hope and Unity

2026 Pukeatua House Leaders – Margot Claridge & Sam McFadden

We proudly wear the orange of the signal fire. Our maunga is Pukeatua (Hills of the Gods), the range running between Waiwhetū and Wainui-o-mata. History tells of local iwi lighting signal fires on this range, to warn others of approaching danger. This is our kaupapa, working together that we may feel safe and thrive.

Remutaka

Core Message – Take A Risk, Reach For Your Goals

2026 Remutaka House Leaders – Ruby McGregor & Will Browne

We gather together beneath the cool shade of forest green and the emblem of a chief’s feather. Our maunga is Remutaka, the ranges which stand between the Hutt Valley and our Wairarapa neighbours. Haunui-a-nanaia, an ancestor of the Te Āti Haunui a Pāpārangi people of the Whanganui region, left his home in southern Taranaki to explore and during his journey, he took rest in these ranges and considered his quest. This is our kaupapa, to strike out, take risks and explore the world around us.

Tararua

Core Message – Strength & Unity

2026 Tararua House Leaders – Bianca Philip & Lachlan Meehan

We stand proud beneath the white of the snow capped mountain. Our maunga is Tararua, the mighty range of peaks that stands guard over the northern end of our valley. Sir Edmund Hillary said: ‘It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves’. This is our kaupapa, looking inward to find our strength while helping those around us conquer their own personal mountains.