McCausland-Durie had previously taught in Auckland and at Palmerston North Girls' High School.
[4][6][7][11] 2005 also saw the establishment of the Tū Toa Charitable Trust, chaired by the brothers' uncle, Mason Durie, to oversee the governance of the school.
This saw Dr Ra Durie leaving the Massey University campus and establishing a separate school, Tai Wānanga Tū Toa, in Aokautere.
Meanwhile, Yvette McCausland-Durie and Nathan Durie, along with other members of the school's education leadership, stayed at the original Hokowhitu site and reformed as Manukura.
[11][13] Netball was the school's founding sports programme and Yvette McCausland-Durie was its original head coach.
[12][14] In 2009, McCausland-Durie guided Tū Toa to their first NZSS title, In the grand final they defeated Mount Albert Grammar School 34–33.
She subsequently led the Manukura girls 1st XV to a national top four final in just her first year of coaching.