Tama tu tama ora, Tama noho tama mate
To stand is to live to lie down is to die

Background for The School of Passion
Moerewa was built to be a service centre in our region for the primary industries of the time i.e. Affco/Dairy Comp/Farming etc. For most of us living in this community, our futures were mainly decided for us. However through the late 1970's to 1980's there were huge economic changes leaving communities like Moerewa devastated. To a lot of people this was the beginning of the end and we realised that if we didn't make some major changes too, that we would become casualties of the new economic environment.
It was then that we realised that we needed to understand the new economic environment and what the new opportunities in this new world were. We knew that this was the so called "information age" we had heard the dialogue that this technology could make a difference for rural communities like ours so we set about trying to figure out how this new knowledge could "Put food on the table for somebody living in Moerewa"
In the early days (Thanks to the ASB Trust who gave us funding for 5 computers in 2002) we ran a Computer Courses, Webpage design courses and even set up a Web Page Design Business which had some success, but was not a sustainable option for all sorts of reasons. We set up a Community Cyber Centre (which had heaps of patronage from local kids but not enough supervision to sustain this option for long). So for a period of time we just provided free computer access for locals to use the internet.
One of the key things we came to realise was that what we needed to do was to understand what our strengths were as a community and how to couple those strengths with the new technologies. Our community has been very strong in the sporting arena, the performing arts and we have a long history as orators and story tellers. We knew that these areas had potential for long term sustainable opportunities. Our community always had the talent but lacked the resources or the skills to take it anywhere.
We believe the time is right, to build up opportunities in the arts, sports & music sectors etc. Never before has NZ music, Arts & Performing Arts had so much success both locally & internationally, and the new digital technology enables us to participate in a new & exciting way. The technology is available to take our stuff to the world without using the big players or the traditional gatekeepers. That is why the recording studio is a huge investment in our community. We don't only use it for music but we also use it for developing local messages around health issues, for local Billboards and there are agencies out there who are interested in giving us work in this line.
Our ultimate dream is to develop a Production House and we have the basic tools or building blocks to begin to realise that dream now. The major spin off for us in these new industries is that our young people have the skills and the nouse to achieve in the areas of their passions and we have come to the understanding that "we weren't all born to be freezing workers" we believe that we are on the threshold of a new exciting future.