Mohaka School One Hundred Years 1880-1980
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MOHAKA SCHOOL CENTENARY
1880 – 1980
School Staff
Mr D. Hadley Mrs H. Hooper (Teacher’s Aide)
School Committee
Mr J. Henry, Chairman
Mrs H. Howell, Secretary-Treasurer
Mrs M. Kent
Mrs M. Hawkins
Mr M. Taurima
School Committee (from back left: P. Hedley, J. Henry, M. Taurima.
Front Row (left): M. Hawkins, M. Kent, M. Howell.
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CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
Chairman: Mr A. Howell
Secretary (General): Mr K. Nehemia
Secretary (Registrations): Mrs E. O’Connor
Treasurer: Mr B. O’Connor
Mrs W. Hapeta, Mr G. Harvey, Mrs Paera Te Aho, Mrs. A. Winiata, Mrs D. McDonnell, Mrs S. Hamilton
Hon. Members: Mrs E Waaka, Mr G. Stuart
Catering: Friends and people of Mohaka
Booklet: A. Howell
Research: K. Nehemia, E. O’Connor, P. Hedley, A. Howell, M. Howell, and friends of Mohaka
Booklet Cover: K. Nehemia
Photography: P. Hedley, A. Howell
Centennial Committee (from back left): A. Howell, G. Harvey, B. O’Connor, K. Nehimia [Nehemia], S. Hamilton, P. Hedley.
Front Row (left): E. O’Connor, D. McDonnell, P. Teaho, D. Winiata, W. Hapeta.
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WELCOMING SPEECH
Haere Mai ! Haere Mai ! Haere Mai
Takitimu Te Pa Tuwatawata.
Taka – Pitau – Kape – Rue ! Tatau Rue!
Whaanga O Te Mauri ! O Te Mana !
O Te Wehi ! Mohaka – Harara – Taupunga – Opunga !
Tangihia O Tatau Mate I Roto I Te Whakapono
Tumanako Me Te Aroha
Na Ratou I Whakapai Te Ara Whanui
“Ahakoa Kua Mate !
Tenei Te Korero Nei”
Haere Mai Ra Ki Te Huri – Rau – Tau O Te Kura
Wananga O Mohaka
“Ko Te Amorangi Ki Mua
Te Tuturutanga Mahi Pono O Te Maori Motu Hake
Haere Mai ! Haere Mai ! Haere Mai !
Welcome ! Welcome ! Welcome !
Takitimu Canoe the Palisade Pa
The cementing of ideas unity is strength
The refuge of life – principle of mana, ow awe.
Mohaka, unifying the Taupunga and the Opunga stones
As we weep for our beloved ones
In faith, in hope and in love.
It was our beloved ones who prepared the way of life
Though they are gone, yet they speak to us
Welcome to the Centennial of the House
School of Learning – Mohaka.
Let God be the spearhead
Let achievement follow
Is true Maoridom in action
Welcome ! Welcome ! Welcome
Canon Wi Te Tau Huata, M.C.
Ex Padre of 28th Maori Battalion,
Takitimu Te Tangata Chaplain.
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MESSAGE FROM THE CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
Another milestone in the history of the Mohaka School has been reached and it is my privilege to be the School Centennial Committee chairman. To my Committee I extend my thanks for the wonderful work they have put into making the centennial possible and to all others who have given so generously in support of this occasion.
Also I am grateful for the help I received from the sources of information and personal help in compiling this booklet, which has been so willingly given.
I regret any errors and omissions there may be, they are not intentional and in apologising for them I can only say I have done my best.
In the changing rural scene today, one wonders what will happen to our country schools in the future. Whatever does come about, one only hopes things will be for the benefit of the pupils, because a school can lead a community. The school does not have to reflect local attitudes and conditions and merely follow them. It can be a vital force, especially in a village like Mohaka with its long history and traditions.,
If you care about yourselves and about others in the community, then remember that the ball is in your court to instill a sense of pride and achievement into your actions and those of the people around you.
May I therefore say to all past pupils, teachers and committee –
Come let us meet, enjoy old memories and old friends for this time may not come again.
Haere-mai-tatou kia tutaki ki nga ohaki nga hoa, ke te a tenei.
Alex Howell
FORWARD [FOREWORD]
MOHAKA SCHOOL – CENTENNIAL
It is with much pleasure that I write to congratulate the school on its centennial celebrations.
These celebrations are a milestone in the history of the district, and reflect the stability of population in your rural area. The school has undoubtedly been a central feature of the district and all those who have been pupils will have varied memories of the time spent at the school. This gathering, particularly for old pupils, will renew old acquaintances and bring back the memories of their days as pupils.
The education system has changed vastly during your hundred years to meet the needs of an ever changing world and as new equipment is produced to assist in meeting these needs.
May I congratulate the organising Committee on their work to ensure the celebrations will be a success, I am sure you will all enjoy gathering to look back over the hundred years the school has operated and contributed to the district.
J. A. HALFORD, O.B.E.
Chairman
Hawke’s Bay Education Board
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A HUNDRED YEARS HENCE
The years have come and so quickly gone
Seventy, eighty, ninety, a hundred and so on
This has been quite an achievement for the school
For teachers, pupils, the triers and occasional fool
Many things have changed considerably over the years
Modes of transport, school site and even pupils fears
But for those who have passed within it’s walls
They can feel proud and walk tall
Though a country school and a small one at that
We were taught all the basics and learnt things off pat
Each generation can ponder, reminisce and look way back
Because compared with others there wasn’t anything academic we didn’t lack
We were one big happy family
In more ways than one
We shared each others triumphs, problems or obstacles overcome
We missed someone when they were away ill
Or families moved, how they were still
We remembered when the senior pupils last left school ground
We’d be the monitors and the top ones around
There are many things I remember of my years
Grubbing blackberry and shearing school sheep with shears
The school gardens and all the veges we grew
To use in the winter for a nice hot stew
A hot mug of cocoa warmed the insides as well each day
Though the different monitors made it in their own particular way
To see everyone cluster around the roaring fire
Then shed clothing or move as they began to perspire
I remember carrying the battery to make the projector go
Down to the porch for a filmstrip show
Radio broadcasts we had our share of those too
Music, current events, science and stories we all knew
Mowing the school lawn was a weekly chore
Just grubbing blackberry became a tedious bore
I still visualise children riding horses to school each day
No sweat, for them that was the normal way
Sport was restricted because our numbers were small
We had mixed rugby and netball and really had a ball
To play other schools was really a great treat
After the games, something to eat
The pupils are scattered to many out of the way places
It would be good to see again once familiar faces
Many have made their mark in life and have memories that last
Hopefully they can recall their schooling, a niche in the past
School for me was one of great joy
For what I can remember as a small primary school boy
There are many memories that I’ll retain and always treasure
The ones of pain, sorrow, fun, frustration and pleasure
For my old school my heart swells with pride
And hopefully they’ll return from far and wide.
Written by HONA HARVEY
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THE CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
The Centennial Committee first met in 1979 some ten months before the event, for the sole purpose of organising the centennial. Looking at the various functions to be held, however extensive they may be, one might well wonder why it should take so long to organise them.
The greatest problem of all has been tracing past pupils, teachers and committee members, who are spread throughout New Zealand, indeed some throughout the world and then ensuring the rolls were complete.
The next most taxing problem has been the production of the centennial booklet, which has required much painstaking research, before passing it to our printers and in this area time has been much too short.
Like the centennial itself, the booklet is intended as a modest acknowledgement of one hundred years of schooling at Mohaka.
And finally the organising of the centennial weekend with all the last minute hustle and bustle to ensure everything goes off as planned combined with the production of souvenirs then sale of some to raise funds and the planning of the Time Capsule to be sealed on centennial day.
Your Centennial Committee have worked hard in the short time available to them.
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A VILLAGE BY THE SEA
Compiled and written by Alex Howell
Mohaka situated some 90 kilometres from Napier by road and 34 kilometres from Wairoa, has a history that goes back as far as any village in New Zealand, but as we are not historians and this is a centennial booklet we will endeavour to stay with things of interest and schooling
The meaning of Mohaka is “of Dance” or “prepared for Dance”. Legends tell us that many years ago the local Maori tribes were entertaining visiting members of another tribe. Things were going along very well when the locals decided to do a haka, this really worked up the visiting members, who started clapping their hands and saying “More Haka – Mor Haka – Mohaka”.
Time has covered a lot of the tracks of history and it is interesting to note that while and village and place are called Mohaka, there is a possibility that the old Maoris called the river Waiparuparu, “Dirty Water”. This was something that came to light in the research and talking with the older people in the area, however, we make no claims to this being correct.
The two principle pas in the area being Hiruharama and Te Huke. Te Huke being the older pa, was built in ancient type of defence system while Hiruharama was a mixture of old and new styles of defence because of the locals having not yet mastered the European methods of defence. The locals were descendants from the Ngati-Kahungunu and their sub-tribe being named Ngati-Pahauwera. They were friendly with the European settlers who started settling on the south side of the river in about 1855.
The earliest European settler which I have been able to positively identify is Robert Riddell, who applied in 1855 for property which consisted of 9,000 acres of fern covered tableland and grassy flats.
It was bounded on the north by the Mohaka River, on the east by the sea and on the west by the Ngahapi Stream and from there a line ran south until it struck Anderson’s northern boundary. The granting of this application was No. 24 of 1856. Riddell stocked his property with 500 sheep and 50 head of cattle and called it Carlton Downs. Now known as Mohaka station consisting of 600 acres and carrying 3000 sheep and 100 cattle.
In the years that followed farming was starting to play an important part in the development of the area and this with the increasing number of European settlers coming to settle
Mohaka, by 1868 could boast a store and hotel stables, this in turn attracted more travellers. The roading was showing signs of improving and wool from Kotemaori and Te Putere and areas in between started to move to Mohaka, to be shipped to Napier, everything looked rosey, things were on the move.
April 10, 1869 dawned as a beautiful day with a light breeze from the south-west. The locals rising to go about their morning chores with a feeling of holiday spirit as only the women and children and old men were left in the two pas, all the younger men were away helping to fight the Te Kooti uprising, far to the north.
The first hint of trouble came with the distant gunfire and the large number of disturbed river birds flying down the river. The alarm was out and because of the distance and lack of communication it was every settler for themselves with many of them taking refuge in the larger pa, Hiruharama, meanwhile the old men and women in Te Huke were fighting for their lives. After a deceitful parley under a flag of truce, Te Kooti’s men gained entrance to Te Huke and then turned upon and killed the old chief along with many
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others, some escaped to Hiruharama.
As night fell despair and grief was felt in the one remaining pa, among the remaining old warriors.
However, Te Kooti’s men were not worried in the least for the day was theirs and they had retired to “Sims Hotel” and a drunken orgy was in full swing.
Early next day the battle against Hiruharama began in earnest. The women had stood up to the old men and told them they would not give up their children to the Hau Haus, their examples of courage revived the courage in the pa and this was the turning point in the defence. By early morning Ihaka Whaanga and Paora Rerepu arrived with the Mohaka men who had been away at Te Kiwi. With them came Trooper Rowley Hill and despite heavy fire from Te Kooti’s men, these new arrivals managed to get into the pa.
Rowley Hill noted the determination of a struggling defence, and taking charge he strengthened the weaker parts of the pa. The battle lasted all night and finally Te Kooti’s men gave up the siege and after stealing all the horses and grog left at the Mohaka Hotel, retired to the Te Putere area and after amusing themselves with horse races and a wild orgy on the liquor taken from Mohaka moved on to the Urewera.
Well over sixty people were killed by the rebels while the known Hauhau losses were a mere ten.
For his bravery at Mohaka, Rowley Hill was later awarded the New Zealand Cross, but more importantly his
Photo captions –
Mohaka Hotel 1890.
Mohaka Hotel 1980.
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respect for the women who had so bravely fought by the men’s side, he was later to marry Harata Hinerata.
Sadly only cemeterys remain to show the sites of the two pas that fought so bravely, Hiruharama being the only pa to successfully repel the raiders has a hall and meeting house with a difference. The Round Hall built in 1896 and kept in mint condition by a strong committee was built to enhance the prestige of the locals.
In the years after 1869 the locals’ confidence was perhaps not quite what it was prior to ’69 and consequently the development in the area was retarded.
However, a young nation was growing and crying out for development, part of this was the need to educate the youth of the country, but to achieve this, country areas needed better roading and communication.
Partly the formation of the Wairoa-Mohaka steamship company, was to fill this place, formed in the early 1870s provided a service between Napier, Mohaka, Waihua and Wairoa.
The fleet consisted of three small vessels ‘Tangaro’ 19 tons, the motor vessel ‘Tu Atu’ 42 tons and the ‘Te Aroha’ 105 tons. A surfboat name ‘Haerimai’ was also included in the fleet and was located on the Mohaka and Wairoa Rivers for use when the bars of these rivers were unworkable due to shoaling.
The Tu Atu was to be the most frequent visitor to the Mohaka River, and with no shelter the passengers were required to sit on the hatch cover. Should it rain or the sea become rough while on passage the women and children were able to sit under a tarpaulin rigged over the vessel’s derrick, while the men remained on the open deck or sought some sort of shelter provided by the lee side of the vessel.
The Tangaroa was to founder and become a loss at Mohaka in August 1887 while coming from Napier and 13 years earlier the ketch Mary Ann Hudson was wrecked on the bar at Mohaka. So sea travel was while being an excellent form of cargo transport was not so good for passengers.
Photo caption – Our famous round hall and meeting house.
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Years before the European settlers the early Maori people realised the value of good inland tracks. But crossing the Mohaka was always a problem even when the river was low and steady. For it the river was in flood it would have been impossible to cross. The early Maori people would have probably crossed near the river mouth or the very few shallow rapids further up the river. Using the beaches and coastline the Maori people had easy access to their existing inland tracks and this suited their needs. However, the Europeans were to need more sophisticated tracks to take loaded horses and then carts.
The first road of any consequence to reach Mohaka would have been the coast road and with this came the age old problem of crossing the river. The quick answer was the river ferry, but this was to give troubles.
By 1882 the Wairoa County Council was to have control of this ferry service and if you were wanting to cross the river at that time, the charges were – foot passengers 6 pence each, man and cart one shilling, mobs of cattle and horses about 5 pence per head, sheep ½ pence per head and if swum across ¼ pence per head.
By 1884 the river ferry was operating fairly satisfactorily and roading in and around Mohaka began to improve and this in itself created work adding to the prosperity of the area. However, the ferry had its labour problems, what with the local hotel being so close to the river and handy to the southern landing combined with the lack of customers the ferryman was on more than one occasion reported drunk, so with all this and the frequent flooding of the river, travellers and school children using the ferry were game customers.
Because of the increase in the volume of traffic using the road to and from Napier and Wairoa the need for a traffic bridge was recognised, so in 1891 the first moves were made to bridge the river. Consequently a tender was let for the construction of the first bridge to cross the Mohaka River. This bridge was to be a toll bridge.
At a cost of £3769 and opened in 1895 this was the pride of Mohaka. More
Mohaka Heads and bridge 1900.
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travellers meant more business, the school could settle to a more regulated atmosphere and not have half the children away whenever the river was in flood.
However, by 1897 the river was soon to find the designs inadequacies in this bridge with two spans falling victim to the might of the Mohaka, this same storm also doing much damage to roads.
Once more people of Mohaka and travellers had to rely on the ferry to cross the river, and the ferry not being used for sometime was not altogether too sound and the short journey across the river was very “precarious”.
Thanks to the efforts of the Wairoa County Council, the bridge was back in use by the middle of 1889 but maintenance and repiling was to be a constant job to keep this bridge in a safe condition.
Once again on 21st May, 1921, the bridge was to be severely damaged and this time by the unusual fate of catching fire and had it not been for the efforts of two men in sawing away the burning sections (Mr G. R. Bell and S. G. Hutchinson) further damage may have resulted. Once again the residents and travellers were faced with the notorious barge. Many of our past pupils can remember this particular time and thought it was rather fun to cross the river on a barge or be unable to go to school because the river was too high to run the barge.
Temporary repairs were carried out on the bridge and the replaced sections were narrower than the older part of the bridge. The Daily Telegraph reports “November 7, 1922: The state of the old Mohaka Bridge is dangerous, holes in the deck are dangerous in the daytime, let alone at night”.
At this time the railway line construction progressed slowly but surely towards Mohaka River, this was to be the railway era, it was in fact the slow decline of Mohaka township. Because of the nature of the construction for the railroad, access roads were required, and on coming to the Mohaka River about 10 kilometres higher up the river from the Mohaka township a railway camp was established, now called Raupunga, also a road bridge was required. To enable the Mohaka Viaduct, Mohaka Tunnel and Mangaturunga [Mangaturanga] Viaduct to be erected this road bridge was opened on 21st December, 1922. However, this bridge also was built with little knowledge of the river habits, and accordingly was built too low and too short. And this was to be proved as early as 16 years after the completion.
While the lower Mohaka Bridge and the Rabbit Bridge were to survive the 1931 earthquake, both of these bridges suffered severe damage in the 1938 floods. The flow of this flood, the highest ever recorded to this present day was measured at 250,000 cusecs or
Photo captions –
The old bridge hours before two spans were washed away in the disastrous flood of April 25th, 1938.
The old bridge hours before two spans were washed away in the disastrous flood of April 25th, 1938.
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250,000 cubic feet of water passing a given point per second. The Rabbit Bridge was a complete right-off and was rebuilt, being raised another 5 feet and strengthened. All traffic between Napier and Wairoa were now using this bridge. However, the old Mohaka Bridge having lost two spans was only given a narrow swing bridge suitable for walking only, perhaps the brave may try to ride a horse across.
In the period of rebuilding after the ’38 flood the railway viaduct was used for motorised vehicles, and many a tale can be told by motorists crossing the viaduct at this time.
Photo captions –
The old Mohaka rabbit bridge 4 to 5 hours before flood peak April 25th, 1938.
All that was left of the bridge after the flood. The flying fox was used to ferry children to school.
Damage after westerly winds.
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With all the traffic crossing the newly built Rabbit Bridge and then later in the ‘50s the new road over the Mohaka Hill was built. Unfortunately for business in Mohaka it took 90% of the traffic away, “from the village by the sea”.
The old swing bridge was replaced in 1962 with a fine modern concrete bridge and the Rabbit Bridge was replaced with a new concrete bridge in 1972. Mohaka had finally been bridged but at a price.
Because of the somewhat isolated area Mohaka is situated in, I feel the roading played a big part in the development of the area and the above was to emphasise this fact along with the difficulties of a moody river. The other part was communications, the following being brief history on the Post Office.
POST OFFICE HISTORY
Early communication was by a telegraph wire which ran between Napier and Wairoa and was here at the time of Te Kooti’s raids. This Post Office and telegraph service must have been the only service to have withstood the Hau Hau’s raids, also floods and earthquakes. However, as records available to me start with the building of the new Post Office at Mohaka in 1889. A Postmistress was appointed. Postmasters and Postmistresses who served at Mohaka were:
Nora McGrath 1-12-1900
Mrs Alice Larnach Inder 26-7-1902
Ellen Mary Grierson 13-5-1903
Miss Gina Rebecca Sim 19-6-1924
Mrs Elizabeth May Sim 28-6-1927
Mrs Caroline Blanche Winter 26-4-1937
I.R.M. Peacock 25-9-1940
Miss N. Garland 1-2-1941
Mrs E.M. Sim 21-2-1942
L.E.E. Wernham 27-5-1946
D.W. Jones 18-3-1947
B. Stichbury 31-8-1948
Miss J.M. Hawkins 15-6-1949
Miss P.H. Hawkins 11-6-1951
Mrs J. M. Rameka 3-3-1954
Mrs L. Governor 12-7-1954
Miss T.N. Te Aho 10-12-1956
Miss M. Gemmell 1-9-1959
Miss H.V. Adsett 1-9-1967
By 1912 several private telephones were connected to the switchboard at Mohaka with one line to Wairoa. The Post Office being on the southern side of the river was severely undermined by the ’38 flood and was moved to higher ground.
In 1953 a new Post Office was built
Photo captions –
The swing bridge.
Opening the new bridge.
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on the northern side of the river and there it was to remain until it finally succumbed to the crunch of economics, and was closed on the 31st March, 1976, much to the distress of the Mohaka residents.
Finally we round up our story with a brief account of . . .
Photo captions –
Nora McGrath, postmistress of Mohaka Post Office 1889.
Children cover the first motorised mail truck to come to Mohaka 1924.
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INDUSTRIES
Farming being foremost, would bring the steamship service to the river. Mohaka being the coastal port for Kotemaori and Te Putere with wool stores well established.
From this a wagon service was established and it is interesting to note a statement made in the late 1890s by the wagoner at that time being Mr Miller;
“Your charges are rather high for the short cartage from wharf to the schoolhouse.”
Mr Miller replying, “With the cost of oats and hay having gone up and Green the blacksmith has put the price of shoes up, I have to cover my costs.”
With the river being used to barge wool down the river to the woolstores, plus the ferry and punt, the need for a boatbuilding was recognised and this was carried out. In an area known today as Carpenter’s’ Paddock.
In the late 1880s a sawmill had been built at the mouth, this in itself created work in that the men were required to fell trees higher up the river and float them down to the mill, there being dragged up to the mill by horses. From this the locals were able to build their own buildings and no doubt men were involved in this worthy occupation.
By 1916 or ’17 the mill sadly was gone. The locals turned to other things, some recognised the potential in dairy farming but alas this was to fall off. The winning of shingle from the river to establish and maintain the roads has always been carried out, and is carried out to this day.
A slaughterhouse round the 1912s and of course the hotel has always been present with a colourful history, being burnt down 2 or 3 times and I would say the only hotel in New Zealand to have Te Kooti’s men as customers, no doubt the barmen did not wait to serve them.
As the locals worked hard they always have had a generous side as the following extract from the Poverty Bay Herald, Wednesday, March 19, 1902:
“The new native church at Mohaka was opened on Sunday week, the building being crowded in every part. The ministers engaged were the Reverends H. Williams, Bennett, and three native clergy. The collections in an aid of the new church totalled £672 which represents real self denying effort extending over two years. A number of the natives, when shearing or doing other work had given orders to their employers to stop a certain percentage of their earnings and hand it over to the church. Of the sum mentioned £560 goes to pay for the new church, £102
Photo captions –
An early view of bridge and hotel.
The same view today.
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is to be banked and utilised for repairs etc, and the remainder would be devoted to the fund to support native clergy.”
As in work the locals like to play hard in their spare time, with dog trials which were started in 1876 and still run every year to this day.
A racetrack was set up with a totalisator system rather advanced for its time, but alas this was soon to fade. However, rugby and basketball were played with enthusiasm. A library was established and a dance hall. Later a picture theatre with regular movies was erected.
As time moved on and developments improved, the roads and rail were to fade and leave us with a school, round hall and hotel plus a declining population.
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF LOCAL POLICE HISTORY
May 12th, 1910, marked the opening of Mohaka’s first police station. District Constable Edward Gordon Walker manned the station, which was situated in the Napier Police District. The Annual Police Report for the year ending March 31, 1911, noted that during the year the station at Waikaremoana was closed and a station was opened at Mohaka “where it was much more needed”.
Constable Frank Hedgman followed on December 12, 1923 and the next year on August 28, Constable Walter Torr settled into the area as the local constable.
The 1931 Napier earthquake hit the area during Constable Leopold Campagnolo’s time at Mohaka. Constable Campagnolo’s duties started there on June 30, 1926 and it was on a bright summer day, February 3, that the Hawke’s Bay district was hit by a violent earthquake at 10.48 a.m. In his annual report Inspector Cummings of the Napier District, said all means of communication were immediately cut off. Telegraph, telegram and wireless all went by the way; water supplies and lighting – both gas and electric – vanished. Buildings, particularly those of brick and mortar, collapsed like houses of cards.
As a result of the earthquake 151 people were killed and many hundreds more were injured.
The Mohaka and Wairoa districts, the report continued, were badly damaged. A man was killed in the Mohaka district as a result of a fall of earth. The hotel in the town was destroyed by the earthquake and fire.
Inspector Cummings said that the total loss throughout the area from the earthquake and fires was estimated at many millions of pounds.
In the 1933 report a decrease in the number of offences was noted. This was largely due to the departure of the floating population, which invaded the whole district during rebuilding after the earthquake.
On February 5, 1942 Constable Joseph Henry Bonnington took over from Constable Campagnolo and in 1945 on February 21, Constable Reginald Bruce Wooding became the sole charge.
Photo caption – The Mohaka Church, built in 1902.
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A road deviation, which completely bypassed Mohaka spelt the end for the one-man station. The Mohaka station was situated about half a mile off the main highway running through the district on what is, from a traffic point of view, a blind road. This road was formerly a main highway but owing to the collapse of the Mohaka bridge it was little used.
The railway station developed at Raupunga had meant the commercial centre of the area had developed there and so it was suggested that the police station be moved to Raupunga. In December 1950, the Mohaka Police Stationhouse was described an old-fashioned, unsuitable for modern requirements and in need of repairs and renovations. It was stated that it would be more satisfactory and economical to sell the property rather than to remove it.
Approval to build a station at Raupunga was given by the minister of Police in July, 1952, and provision of £2,000 expenditure was made in the works programme for 1952-3. A satisfactory tender was received for the erection of a house, lock-up garage and ancillary work but action to accept the tender was deferred as it was thought the site may have been unsuitable.
In March, 1953, it was decided to proceed with the buildings on the original site chosen for the new station, which was opened in 1954.
Until April 1, 1966, Raupunga was in the Napier District but with the creation of the new Rotorua District and the subsequent alteration of boundaries, it became the southernmost station in the Gisborne District.
A view of Mohaka 1954. (Copyright White’s Aviation)
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SNIPPETS FROM SCHOOL COMMITTEE NOTES AND CIRCULARS
The Appointments of Junior Assistants. At present time many Maori schools have junior assistants. Junior assistants were first appointed many years ago primarily to act as interpreters. Originally they were people who could understand and speak Maori, and interpret the teachers to the children and the children to the teachers. They have continued to act as aides to the teacher, and they have provided valuable help in the education of the children.
Riding Allowance: October 1953:
This is paid to children who qualify for a conveyance allowance, but who use a horse as means of conveyance. The rate of the riding allowance is 6d per horse per school day for distances up to 5 miles and 8d per horse per school day for distances greater than 5 miles. Application for riding allowance should be made in the same way as for conveyance allowance.
Quote from Minutes of School Committee meeting 17/2/42:
1. It was agreed that the girls should dress in rompers for physical educ.
2. That Mrs Priestley get the required material.
3. That this be paid out of Committee funds.
4. That money be refunded.
5. That a dance and 500 evening be held in Mohaka Dining Room on Friday, 27th February, at 8 p.m. The proceeds to assist parents in paying for rompers.
The following details concerning running of dance: Admission, 2/- Adults, 6d for children; Hiring Hall, Mrs. Rattray; Cleaning Hall, Committee; Music, Mrs Rattray to see Miss Renata; Doorkeepers, Mrs Rattray; Cards, Mr Peter Nehemia; Supper, School girls to make 6 sponges. Mrs Rattray to order 4 large loaves. Parents to be invited to bring a plate. Mr Priestley to endeavour to get a rabbit, this with corned beef ordered by Mrs Rattray to be minced for fillings for sandwiches. Should this fail Mrs Rattray to order ham. 1lb butter Mrs S. Hawkins. ½ doz. Eggs, Mrs Rattray.
Next months meeting saw an account for 1/2 lb ham so Mr Priestly couldn’t have got the rabbit promised. By the way the 1/2 lb ham cost 2/6.)
November 21st, 1938:
Committee decision to buy a watch in leather case for Mr Wharepiki Hurunui for his bravery in connection with the fire.
Programme for opening of new school:
1. That the date for the opening of the new school be the 22nd April, 1949.
2. Programme: Opening Function, 11 a.m.; Dinner, 12 noon.
3. Invitations: Mr McCombs, Minister of Education, be invited to open School; Mr Tirikatene; Mr Goodwin, School Inspector; A.T. Carroll, Chairman Wairoa County; Mr O’Grady, County Councillor for Mohaka Riding; The Reverend J. Tamahori and Representative from Board; The Reverend Hemi Huata; Mr Fleming, Education Board’s architect.
Arrange screen advertisement at Raupunga Theatre.
Invitation to Raupunga and Waihua people.
Dance to follow days programme – charge 2/6 Adults, 6d for children.
The Committee agreed that householders be canvassed, asking for 5/- donation.
Ice-cream – 4 gallons for the children.
This was later postponed as Prime Minister was away in England and it was decided to wait until he came home.
Prime Minister then asked for a date to open school anytime after 2nd July.
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EXTRACTS FROM THE SCHOOL LOG
1880 February: Mohaka School opens. Headmistress Miss Smith. Roll about 12 pupils.
1885 January: Headmistress Miss W. Hatton. Roll, about 15 pupils.
1886 January 25: School reopened today. Teacher Miss Millar. 19 pupils present.
1886 February 10: Savings Bank introduced into school for the school children.
1886 April 4: New school committee elected, Mr George Bee (chairman), Mr Sim, Mr White, Mr Hawkins (believed to be the local policeman), Mr Milne and Mr Stark. Meeting 1st Saturday of every month.
1887 January: School reopened this morning one week late on account of steamer being unable to cross bar due to weather conditions. 17 pupils present.
1887 February: Miss Millar resigns, new teacher takes over February 14th, R.A. Pirani. Stayed 1 month. Mr L. Douglas then takes over.
1887 April: No school today as only 5 pupils assembled at 9.30 a.m. This was due to a wedding at the Pa. Message from chairman to say if the attendance was below 6 pupils, the school was to be closed. This was done.
1887 June 16: Time table carried out during the morning. Committee granted 1½ days holiday to enable me to reach Napier by Saturday. Mid winter holidays commenced on the 17th.
1887 July 11: Reopened school today after 3 weeks holidays. 5 males and 14 females. In the afternoon the school was visited by members of the school committee. Mr Bee gave those children present jubilee medals, explain the reason why.
1887 September 21: Time table carried out. 2 of my pupils, Masters (and) McIvor [McIver], lose several hours weekly, having to leave school at 3 p.m. for the purpose to reach their home at Waikari before dark. These boys were given extra homework.
1887 October 8: Had sewing classes today. Most of the girls backward in their examination work. This being caused by the parents requiring their presence at home early.
1887 October 12: Timetable carried out. No native children attending school this week as the river is very high and prevents oat and punt crossing the river.
1887 January 23: Reopen school today. 8 boys and 11 girls attended. Timetable not carried out. Teacher Mr L. Douglas.
1888 July 2: Commenced school today according to date arranged by school committee. Timetable suspended. 9 girls and 2 boys.
1888 November 15: School closed owing to illness of the teacher and pupils. This was done by the school committee. Since Monday 12th. Reopen the school this morning with only 4 pupils present. This low attendance was due to illness and shearing.
1888 December 14: Mr L. Douglas resigns.
1889 January 28: New teachers, Miss Mary Millar (has returned). School opened at 9.30 a.m. with 15 pupils. Time table carried out as well as possible. Opened by the chairman and introduced to the children.
1889 September 5: Small attendance owing to the unusual fresh in river.
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1889 September 6: Very wet day. No school.
1889 September 9: Still very wet, small attendance.
1889 September 16: Timetable suspended owing to small attendance of only 9 children. It is so wet that the children are unable to attend school. Wet weather and the rising of the river has been very much against the working of the school.
1889 September 20: Timetable carried out. Extremely low attendance on account of bad weather and of the unsafety of the river traffic.
1889 September 23: Small attendance due to the state of the roads and rain. Impossible to cross river. Timetable strictly followed.
1889 September 27: Still raining. Flood preventing attendance.
1889 September 30: Attendance still small. 2 of the pupils left by steamer for Napier. 5 detained across river owing to heavy flood. 5 detained at home, leaving a very low attendance. Timetable suspended.
1889 October 16: No school in the morning owing to the creeks having risen too high to be passable. The uncertain state of the weather and its results, as regards to the river, creeks and cuttings, make it impossible for good steady work and this unsettles the children.
1889 October 22: Low attendance owing to sickness and the pupils required at home for shearing.
1889 October 25: 5 children away due to shearing.
1889 November 22: 21 pupils at school.
1889 December 1: Timetable suspended owing to the small attendance of 7. 2 of these were from Waikari and 2 from the other side of the river, thus the majority were those not residing in the township, the rain preventing those pupils living five minutes walk from the school from attending.
1889 November 23: The school was inspected by Mr Hill. These are some quotations from his report – Fair discipline is maintained, orderly and well behaved. The school room (24ft by 15ft) which is a building hired for the purpose, is very clean and tidy, but is in sad need of a coat of paint, the accommodation is sufficient for present requirements. The apparatus and appliances are in fair order and repair.
1890 January 27: Reopened school today with the attendance of 8 children. Teacher Miss Millar.
1890 February 14: Closed school at 3 p.m. by the request of the parents. The majority of the children are required at home.
1890 February 17: Timetable suspended after 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., carried out again in the afternoon. Children very languid over their work owing to the intolerable heat and want of ventilation in the room.
1890 March 17: Timetable carried out in the morning. Was compelled to close the school as I was unwell.
1890 March 21: Timetable suspended during the afternoon, mental arithmetic taken instead of drawing. Attendance most irregular as some of the boys are required for home duties.
1890 May 6: Timetable carried out, good attendance of 35 children. Just before the school opened this morning a Maori girl, swinging, fell and put her wrist out. She was taken home after the ferryman fortunately put it back for her. The swing is very dangerous and it is impossible to a certain extent to keep some of the children from using it. However, it will be made impossible to use, and so prevent further injury.
1890 May 30: Miss Millar resigns.
1890 August 6: Reopened school. Miss Jane Redman teacher. 13 children in attendance.
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1890 August 12: Timetable carried out. Present today, 14 boys and 16 girls. Maori children quite unused to discipline, rather a drawback to order and hope to improve them.
1890 September 9: One of the children ill, has died. Sister absent in consequence. Better attendance of children. Three gentlemen visited the school this morning one of them a Maori of some importance, two others members of the school committee, Mr Bee (chairman), and Mr Logan. Stayed to see the children assembled and begin their arithmetic lesson. Expressed their approval. Mr Bee gave orders to have the school floor repaired which was attended to that evening.
1890 September 15: Very wet morning. No Maoris or children who have to come along the beach able to attend, morning or afternoon. Timetable to suit the few present. Kept school all day.
1890 October 6: Bad attendance. Punt unable to cross river. Timetable carried out.
1890 October 27: Very heavy fresh in river. Ferryman says it is too dangerous to bring children over. Consequently no children from other side of river.
1890 October 31: Same as yesterday.
1890 November 10: Decided not to take a holiday for Prince of Wales birthday being so near examinations.
1890 November 26: Fine weather today. Maori children returned to school. 27 present. Children helped to redecorate school in the afternoon when school was out. All quiet, pleased to do so.
1891 January 26: School reopened this morning. 18 girls and 23 boys present. One new pupil from Auckland district. Miss Redman teacher.
1891 February 4: Fine weather. All children attended well. A new pupil from Waikari.
1891 February 23: Large attendance. Very hot weather. 29 boys and 20 girls on register. Very crowded.
1891 March 2: 33 boys and 21 girls on register. Timetable carried out.
1891 March 6: Opened school from the beginning of year at 9 a.m. for the upper standards and 9.30 a.m. for the juniors. Some parents objected to sending the children at 9 a.m. but as there are so many Maori pupils, they are very noisey [noisy] and I find it quite impossible to explain any new work while I am attending to a large noisey class.
1891 March 9: 49 children present.
1891 April 3: The inspector called attention to the condition of the floor of the school. The committee made arrangements and work is to be carried out tomorrow, therefore the school is closed by the order of the chairman, Friday, 3rd April.
1891 April 6: Floor of school repaired, school business as usual. School being painted outside, and window panes put in. Only 8 pupils present. No Maoris from Waikari, only those residing close by.
1891 April 10: Maori children attending badly, beach rough, heavy seas. Waikari boys cannot ride along beach to school.
1891 April 8: Attendance not so good all of this week. Regret losing pupil in 7th Standard who has left for Havelock.
1891 June 12: Wet and cold. No children from any distance able to attend. One boy who was boarding at Mohaka to attend school has now a tutor at home. Left today.
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1891 June 15: Bad weather, rough beach impossible to ride along. No boys from Waikari. Timetable carried out.
1891 July 9: Only a few European children came this morning. No afternoon attendance. Weather too bad to cross the river. Mr Bee and children residing over the river now.
1891 September 15: Severe rain storm, heavy flooding. River and sea impossible to negotiate. Mr Bee’s children cannot attend this morning.
1891 November 2: Two McIver boys still away and another likely to go to Napier this week, although parents know that examinations are to take place soon. It is very disheartening work. Worked hard with those present.
1891 November 9: Public holiday but asked children on Friday to attend as it was probable examination morning. All attended.
1891 November 15: Holiday granted by chairman of the committee, after the examinations.
1891 November 23: Several boys absent some required for shearing.
1891 December 4: School picnic to be held on the 12th December.
1892 February 1: School reopened today a week late owing to bad weather. No steamer leaving either Wairoa or Mohaka. Had to wait a week in Napier. 13 girls and 16 boys on register.
1892 February 10: Almost all the Maori children absent, gone to Wairoa with parents for the coming races.
1892 February 22: Had severe rain and flood. No children living across the river can attend.
1892 February 29: Owing to the death and funeral of Mr Sim (Junior), Chairman of the School Committee, members of the school committee ordered the school closed today.
1892 May 11: Very heavy rain, river flooded. Only those 6 children who reside close to the school can attend. Opened at 9.30 a.m. Dinner time (short). Kept school open until 2 p.m. Only 4 attend during afternoon. This school suffers badly from bad weather as children residing across the river or at any distance do not and cannot attend regularly.
1892 May 18: River moderated allowing the punt to cross.
1892 May 20: At a meeting of the school committee, 18th, the chairman has informed me that it has been decided to close the school at 3 p.m. for the winter months. Most of the children residing at a distance in consequence I have shortened the dinner hour by half an hour, so as not to curtail lessons.
1892 June 17: School closed today due to heavy flooding in the river.
1892 June 18: School could have reopened today but in consequence of heavy flood, storm and rain, school grounds being under water, no children could possibly have come.
1892 July 7: Punt to bring children over cannot work as wire for purpose was carried away by the flood on Sunday 3rd. Asked chairman to report same to the board.
1892 July 15: River still impassable.
1892 August 5: The water laid on by the committee is very much appreciated, both for drinking and washing hands.
1892 August 12: Weather threatening, children from Whakapouri and Waikari did not attend. Timetable as usual.
1892 November 25: Half holiday by order of chairman. School to be cleaned and decorated for wedding service tomorrow.
1893 October 19: Opened school today with 15 pupils. Miss Bell the teacher.
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1895 May 20: Timetable carried out. The new bridge opened. Native children better.
1896 January 28: School reopened today after midsummer vacation. 9 boys and 6 girls were present. Several of my best native scholars are leaving for the Convent, very annoying as they are standard pupils.
1896 September 29: School opened in the morning school wanted for wedding in the afternoon. Very inconvenient.
1896 December 2: Received notice that the school room would be wanted for Election, December 14th. Holiday granted by the chairman on that date.
1897 January 25: School reopened today after midsummer vacation. All present.
1897 February 6: 5 native girls leaving for the Convent, very unfair as it leaves me with fewer scholars to present for the exam.
1897 February 16: Timetable carried out. Attendance bad. Impossible to prepare pupils for standards as they attend so irregularly – 1 out of 6 present in Standard 2.
1897. April 20: Bridge take away by flood. School not opened.
1897 June 18: School wanted for marriage.
1898 February 2: Only 9 present. Very windy. Children not allowed to come over in cage.
1898 May 27: Dog trials. Only 7 children.
1898 October 17: Timetable carried out. A tap fixed onto water supply and a mug supplied by committee.
1898 October 25: Holiday granted by school committee because Church Committee requested the school for special purposes.
1899 February 10: Timetable carried out. A pupil-teacher commenced work today.
1899 May 15: Timetable carried out until 2 p.m. Photographer arrived to take photographs of children.
1899 December 13: School was closed today for midsummer holidays. Received for school-cleaners £2 5s from school committee. Paid 15/- to Mrs McGrath, 10/- to Nome Ranapia and £1 to Lena Hawkins.
1900 January 29: School was opened today with an attendance of 13. Did not follow timetable fully. Took chiefly arithmetic, reading and writing.
1900 February 27: Whooping cough prevalent at pa. interfered with attendance.
1900 February 29: P.T. 20 minutes late, no reason. Warned that it must not occur again. Telegram received from Premier suggesting that holiday be given in order to impress on children our important turning point in the War with South Africa.
1900 March 2: Wire from Premier with news of the Relief of Ladysmith, suggesting that a holiday be given, owing to examination not able to be given at this point.
1900 March 3: Attendance 43. Wire to chairman to say that the inspector will examine the school on Wednesday, 8th March.
1900 May 14: Maori members of school committee insisted on weeks holiday for dog trials. As both Monday and Tuesday were very wet it did not much matter. And there would be no attendance on the other days.
1901 January 29: School reopened after midsummer holidays. 29 pupils.
1904 February 11: Attendance 30. Mr Wilson arrived to take charge of school.
1904 August 26: Native children’s attendance very unsatisfactory. Boys especially seem to be taken out “bush-felling” etc., by parents who appear to look on schooling as a
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secondary importance. Native girls attend much better than boys.
1904 October 5: Miss Webb arrived to take charge.
1904 November 4: Timetable carried out. Attendance not good, shearing having commenced at several of the stations around about. Also whooping cough being very prevalent.
1904 November 18: Some of the children have been most unruly, so much that I asked the chairman to suspend two of the Nate Tumataroa and Puke Waihape. They are large children and have a very detrimental effect on the other children.
1904 December 15: Miss Webb leaves.
1905 February 6: New teacher is Mr Millar. Roll 26 girls and 15 boys. In a very stuffy room, not enough seats. Some of the children are sitting on the floor.
1905 April 4: 58 today, and I really don’t know what to do with them as some are still sitting on the floor.
1905 April 6: 58 at school today, keep asking for more seats.
1905 April 11: Roll now 72.
1906 January 29: Reopened school today with the attendance of 36. I put a tent outside and have my classes under the shade of the trees.
1906 January 30: 34 today. Things are going badly. Worked by the timetable as usual. It was rather cold working outside today. And no sign of the new school.
1906 January 31: The roll number is now 81.
1906 April 19: It is now a reality to have the new school and it is a pleasure both to Miss Ferguson and myself to have each a separate room. We had 18 months with a roll of 96 in a room 24ft by 15ft. as the months rolled slowly on we seemed to get deeper into a muddle. We tired of teaching outside, this failed for the children saw everybody and everything passing. On wet days we could do nothing to keep order. We often had 10 in a seat. These were supposed to hold five. Writing, drawing, brush work and native study were just too one-sided having no room. We also had children sitting on the floor, but even in our school we have difficulty in moving in because of heavy flood, and the roads are very bad. We had to wait a week for the new desks coming by steamer.
1906 November 16: School roll 53 out of 97.
1906 November 20: Last night I was called to see a sick lad. I found it to be another case of typhoid fever.
1907 February 4: Reopened the school today with 35. Many of the children are still away in the bush.
1907 April 16: A Maori wedding today so only about 30 present. I had to play the organ for the wedding and was away for about an hour.
1907 April 29: Since the board has sent out notices re attendance I am pleased to see that our attendance is much better.
1908 April 9: The following is from the school inspectors report, Mr Hill:
1. A school in capable hands and in promising condition.
2. Mistress absent.
3. Trainees recommended for gratuiting Mr Millar, Headmaster E.1. A master whose mind is in his work. He is of great value to the natives themselves by his ministering work. All his spare time is given to visiting the sick.
Miss Ferguson, mistress, absent.
Miss May Church and Miss McKain, trainees, doing duty during the absence of the
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Mistress, recommended that their services be recognised by a gratuity, as they are doing good work. Roll 83. Present 55.
The school is in good working order, the children are under good influences. The rooms are very clean and tidy, and all the out arrangements are good, another shed would be an advantage and a low fence around the gardens would be helpful to good work.
The buildings are in good order and so are the appliances and apparatus.
1908 The end of 1908 Mr Millar leaves. A new teacher takes up: Mr Nelson. Miss Ferguson still the assistant teacher.
1909 February 1: School reopens today with 35 pupils.
1913 May 5: Took charge of the school today, owing to the sad sickness and death of the headmaster, Mr Nelson. The general process of the school has been retarded. It will take time for the school to regain its efficiency. Miss Thompson assistant teacher. The headmaster Mr Stagpoole.
1913 July 1: Miss Thompson resigns. Relieving teacher Miss Lenmell.
1913 July 8: The following committee was elected last night. D. McIver, chairman, Messrs M. McIver, J. Tait, E. Oldham, E.J. Walker, W. Hawkins and Rev. Wepiha.
1913 July 29: A I must leave by coach road tomorrow, I wish to thank the Maoris for their generous gift to me and wish them prosperity, Thos Stagpoole.
1913 August 1: I arrived today at Mohaka and begin teaching on Monday 4th. Am informed that Miss Ward (of Mohaka) has been appointed assistant temporarily.
New teacher Mr John Hooper.
1913 August 28: Yesterday a southerly raged with a deluge of rain. Only 5 children came and the chairman of the committee recommended that these be sent home, there was no school. With a strong southerly blowing the chimneys smoke unbearably.
1913 October 10: A personal weighing machine ordered by Education Department arrived, brought by Mr F. Millar, waggoner.
1913 December 12: Photographs.
1914 February 10: School reopened from February 4th to 7th. Carpenters pulled down chimney, boarded in fireplace and moved cupboards in the school. As Miss Mortleman, the new assistant, will not arrive in time to teach this week, the primer classes have been told not to come to school till next week.
1914 March 12: School closed by committee on account of the Mohaka Athletic Sports.
1914 April 8: Garden tools ordered by the board arrived from Wairoa, being 6 spades, 6 D hoes, 4 clipping hoes, 6 rakes, 4 hand-trowels, 4 handforks. School closed in afternoon by committee in connection with the local dog trials. Miss Mortleman leaves and on the 20th April, Miss Ledley commences as assistant teacher.
1914 April 27: The following school committee was today elected: W. McKain, J.F. Frost, A. McDonell, W. Hawkins, E. Oldham, M. McIver, and F. Millar. Mr McKain chairman.
1914 May 21: From last Sunday the river was in flood, the highest for over 7 years. it was due to strong southerly rain storm. The Post Office and the blacksmith shop had their floors covered by the flood. There has been no mail since Friday, 15th May, and no-one knows when there will be. This is
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due to road and bridge damage, a huge quantity of wood has been deposited on the beach.
1914 May 24: Miss Pedley went to Napier on the 16th intending to return on the 22nd. In view however, of road communications being cut off Napier and Wairoa, the date of her return is problematical. School resumes on the 26th.
1914 July 7: Concert and dance held in the Town Hall to obtain school funds. More than half the items were given by the schoolchildren.
1914 July 15th: Arbor Day. The children in the upper classroom went with me to the Coquet Creek bush and got a large number of young native trees, mostly Karakas. These were planted on the south-west on the playground, replacing the Macrocarpas that had died.
1914 August 23: Roll 52.
1914 September 2: The school gets a new coat of paint.
1914 November 3: Miss Pedley leaves, Miss Hooper comes as the assistant.
1914 November 11: Miss Lehndorf the new assistant.
1915 February 2: Two of my pupils Bella Harawira and Moana Hawkins, won 1st and 2nd prize for handwriting at the show held in Wairoa. Miss Stevens arrives as assistant teacher.
1915 May 31: The following school committee was elected: W. Green, C. Te Kahika, W. Hawkins, J. Ropotini, Mahood (chairman).
1915 July 2: There has been no heating at all approaching adequacy in the lower classroom all this winter, owing to the bad state of the stove flue.
1915 August 8: The chairman of the school committee has closed the school until the end of next week because of many typhoid cases and 4 cases of diptheria [diphtheria] among the school children.
1916 February 11: Today one of the Standard VI pupils of this school, Charlotte Mahood, received a letter from the E.B. informing her that she had been awarded the Wairoa County Scholarship of £40 per annum for two years.
1916 May 19: My last day of teaching at Mohaka.
1916 July 3: New teacher, Mr Higgins, assistant Miss Stevens. 63 on the roll. Relieving teacher Miss Webb. Later on a new assistant, Miss Butler.
1916 October 31: Roll now 70.
1917 April 16: New School Committee elected: McIver (chairman), W. Littlejohn, J.G. Mahood, D. McIver, J.C. Thompson.
1917 October 10: Roll now 74. Average so far is 95% which is a record for the school.
1918 March 6: Roll 84. Overcrowding, especially in the infant room. Rhoda McKain has been granted the Wairoa County Scholarship, having the most marks in her proficiency certificate within the Wairoa County.
1918 May 24: Mr Higgins resigns.
1918 June 5: New teacher, I. Kaye, assistant Miss Butler. Roll, boys 51, girls 34.
1918 July 31: Miss Kaye resigns.
1918 August 5: New head teacher took charge, Parker-Smith.
1919 June 19: 104 pupils on roll.
1919 July 16: Miss Stephson resigns. Closed for a week due to the flu.
1920 April 27: Annual meeting, school committee elected: M. McIver (chairman), J. Aranui, G., Hokianga, N. Nehima, W. Biddle, Miss D. MacKay as temporary second assistant.
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1920 October 27: Miss Butler, assistant for 3½ years, left today.
1921 March 24: Mr Parker-Smith resigns. Mr A.S. Harper takes charge.
1921 May 23: Reopened school today. Attendance poor. During the holidays the bridge was burned and it is now difficult for the children to cross the river.
1922 July 28: Holiday was granted by committee. Upper room excursion to Wairoa. Football match with Mairo District School – Wairoa 10, Mohaka 6.
1922 September 26: Miss Phillips commenced today. Last Saturday Mr Smith of the Wairoa school brought out his school football and girls hockey tea. Mohaka was defeated at hockey but won the football.
1923 March 1: School closed today for unveiling of monument to fallen soldiers.
1923 March 29: Mr Harper resigns.
1923 April 4: New teacher, Mr Gilchrist. The school is overcrowded, particularly the infant room. Attendance 69.
1923 April 23: Householders meeting. Following committee elected: Messrs Walker (chairman), Gibbons, Nehemia, Hawkins, Hancy.
1923 April 27: Mr Gilchrist leaves, new teacher starts May 7th – Mr William Black.
1923 July 18: Half holiday granted by school committee on occasion of the marriage of their sec. Nelene Nehemia.
1924 February 24: Reopened after summer vacation. Mr Hamlin Mrs Phillips position as assistant and Miss I. Sim as Pupils Teacher. I have received no information of this appointment.
1924 June 30: William Black resigns.
1924 July 2: New teacher starts Mr Windfield.
1926 March 3: Native Department takes over administration of school.
1934 February 5: Raupunga School in use by April or May.
Roll approximately 97.
1934 February 12: School bus service unsatisfactory due to bad weather.
1934 February 27: Have drawn plan of the district showing locations in which children live, and forwarded same to department.
1934 March 6: At 11.47 prolonged swinging earthquake after which came another much more prolonged.
1934 March 16: Another earthquake, worse than previous quakes. All clocks were stopped.
1934 March 21: First dog trials held here for many years.
1934 March 24: Mohaka Annual Sports.
1934 April 19: The educational Gazette of today contains an advertisement for a head teacher, and 1st assistant for the Native Mohaka Native School. In the many years that the school has been established at Mohaka, no staff has remained as long as this one, during 6½ years the only changes were (1) the addition to the junior assistant 6½ years ago, and (2) later the addition of another junior, these two are still on the staff.
1934 May 4: Last of temporary shack pulled down.
1934 May 24: This school has absorbed Maungaturanga Public School on the 31st, this day ends by splitting in two (amoeba like) Raupunga Schooling, coming into being tomorrow, makeshift certainty and this I leave a makeshift existence for 3½ years duration to being another of (I hope) only a few weeks duration.
1934 May 21: Two weeks ago I packed and left, now I am back again until the Maungaturanga Public School in the interval, the conduct of work is difficult and Mrs Willis
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has been left in charge of P-S2 at M.P.S. and 3-6 from there brought on to Mohaka.
1934 June 2: New teacher arrives, school opens with the roll at 73. T. Fletcher.
1934 June 19: Nurse Banks called.
1934 July 9: Roll now 69.
1934 July 12: Dividing the money between the two schools ? ? ?
1934 July 28: Raupunga school opened.
1934 August 6: Boys caught smoking. Storekeeper to be interview by teacher.
1934 August 12: Heard today that Mr Lemuel Te Urupu died. He gave the land for the Raupunga Native School and also a section of land to the school in Mohaka.
1934 September 25: Roll at 74.
1934 October 29: Concert held, girls in white blouses and gym frocks, boys in white shirts and dark trousers. Cleared £16 profit.
1934 December 18: Parents Day.
1934 December 26: Children in uniform lined the main road at 11.27 a.m. Ducke’s car stopped (we did not expect it), children sang, people gave haka.
1935 February 4: Roll at 78. Took Miss Adams to her quarters.
1935 February 19: Some children suffering from malnutrition. School closed this afternoon. The temperature reached 82°.
1935 May 2: Took 6 children to Wairoa to compete in Sports Day – 3 firsts and 2 seconds.
1935 March 12: Monthly measuring and weighing.
1935 July 17: Held reception at Pa today. We welcomed Gov.-Gen. Lord Galway and Lady Galway.
1935 December 7: The Local Calf Club parade was held today at Raupunga.
1935 December 13: Annual concert poor result owing to absence of people who are away shearing. Made only £6. Registered a record attendance for the week – 99.7%.
1936 School opened with a roll of 81. A meeting of parents was held with the view of having the school enlarged.
1936 April 1: Roll stood at 47 boys and 37 girls – total 84.
1936 July: Mr Fleming, the Hawke’s Bay Education Board’s architect, came today. He examined the building and pronounced them sound and in good repair. He measured up with the view to report to the Department re our overcrowded state and the necessity for extension. He also taped out the distance of the water from the school.
1936: Doctor Haycock and Nurse Wellby called today. The doctor was greatly pleased with the high standard of health and was keenly appreciative of the work being done.
1936 November: New assistant started today, Miss Huata.
1936 November: Today received a letter from Department re proposed bus. Capitation will be granted but no contract undertaken by Department.
1937 February: Alterations completed at school, also school bus service starts carrying 21 children.
1937 March: Discovered today that the local storekeeper has been selling cigarettes to two boys who have been giving them to others to smoke. I shall interview the local policeman and find out the law with regard to serving children with tobacco.
1937 April: School roll 84.
1937 June 29: Mohaka viaduct opened today to school for opening.
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1937 July: The children in Standard 3-6 a Concert programme from 2ZP Wairoa. Great success.
1937 October 11: New teacher, Mr Goodwin. Roll 80.
1938 February 1: Roll 55. The householders meeting – new committee elected: Mr Rattray (chairman), Mr Nehemia, Mr Hokeanga, Mr Marten Joe, Mr J. Hawkins.
1938 April 25: School closed for Anzac Day. Tremendous flood in river which washed half of the bridge away. This completely isolates Mohaka, there being only a clay track out to Kotemaori.
1938 May 2: Several pupils at school today. Cage has been erected to swing over river but this is very difficult to pull as it needs three or four men.
1938 May 6: Better attendance with 29. A footbridge has been erected, providing access to school. Decided to continue with school for another week to get the children used to the swing bridge.
1938 May 11: Roll 67. Children getting used to the swing bridge.
1939 February 2: Reopened school today. Roll 76. Mrs Beale commenced duties today as relieving assistant.
1939 February 11: Householders meeting last night. Following new committee elected: Mr Leonone Rattray (chairman), Mr K. Hokeanga, Mr S. Hawkins, Mrs A. Smith, Mr H., Nehemia.
1939 May 22: Reopened school. Issued prefects’ badges today: Roger Joe, Doreen Rattray, E. Joe, A. Wairoa, Barney Te Kahika, George Hawkins, Irene Hawkins, Richard Thompson.
1939 September 3: War declared today. School reopened after holidays.
1939 September 25: New swing bridge was to have been erected during the weekend. Owing to weather conditions which became unfavourable, swing bridge is only half completed. No children are able to cross.
1939 September 28: The swing bridge is now complete. Should not give any more trouble now that a substantial bridge has been erected.
1940 February 6: Reopened school today. Roll 74. Big drop.
1940 June 24: Received communication from Department asking for roll numbers and prospects to decide whether to build two or three roomed school.
1941 February 4: Reopened school today. Roll 65. A big drop. Annual meeting of parents. Good gathering. New committee elected: Mrs Rattray (chairwoman), Mr Sonny Hawkins, Mrs K. Hokianga, Mrs W. Hapeta, Mrs J. Wainahu.
This ought to be a really good committee.
1941 April 16: Mr W.A.B. Goodwin leaves. New teachers – Mrs Clark, Mr Clark and Miss Huata. Roll 58.
1941 May 26: School reopened after term holidays. Mr Clark is assisting at Raupunga. Miss Allardyce commenced duties here.
1941 July 28: Roger Joe – an ex pupil – was believed to have been drowned today while crossing the Mohaka river on his way to Springhill where he was employed. His disappearance and supposed drowning has cast quite a gloom over the whole district.
1941 October 3: Roll average 62.5.
1941 December 19: Roll, boys 29, girls 37; total 66.
1941 February 3: School reopened today. Staff Mr Prestley, Miss Juata, (junior assistant, Mrs Prestley). Roll 70.
1942 February 6: Householders meeting. New committee elected: Mrs L. Rattray (chairwoman), Mrs Hopeta, Mrs S. Hawkins, Mrs A. Smith, Mrs K. Hokianga.
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1942 April 21: Army manoevres [manoeuvres] in river of great interest to pupils and locals.
1942 April 25: 37 Home Guardsmen arrived at about 11 a.m. to dig air raid trenches in the school grounds. 7 trenches were dug and sides camouflaged. Air raid alarms practice to be held at regular times.
1943 January 31: E. Prestley resigns.
1943 MY 17: Reopened school today. Staff – H.S. Rimmer, Miss Huata, J. Beale. Roll 61.
1943 September 10: School closed for Italian surrender holiday. The telegram was late in arriving but the school children soon had the news.
1944 School reopened today. Roll 58.
1944 July 8: Ross Shield trials at Wairoa. 5 boys made the trip. Hori Hawkins, Billy Keef and Rangi Haawai have gained places in the district team
1945 August 15: At 11 a.m. the staff and senior pupils assembled at teachers residence to hear an important announcement over the radio that Japan had surrendered.
1946 February 4: Roll 52.
1946 July 17: Received advice from H.B. Board architect that tenders are being called for erection of new school and residences.
1947 February 3: Opened school today. Staff – B. Cowley, Mrs Kihi, Miss Gillies. Roll 58, 27 boys and 31 girls. Householders meeting elected the following new committee: Mr McIver (chairman), J. Nehemia, R. Nehemia. C. Denton, F. Flavell, J. Kopu, N. Hawkins.
1947 March 16: Miss Gillies transferred to another school. We now await a Miss Te Naku of Mahia as R.J.S. The Deputation to the Prime Minister re the new school was assured of an early commencement of building by Mr Frazer.
1947 April 10: Staff – Mr Robinson, Mrs Kihi, Miss Te Nahu. Roll 56.
1947 October 10: New head teacher, Mr Cotterell. Roll 60.
1948 April 23: An interesting week as Mr Headey made a start on the new school on Monday.
1948 August 21: Miss Joe and Mr Weaka were married today. The wedding breakfast was a wonderful effort and the crowd was enormous. The day was married by the news that Mr Jim Scott, who unbalanced from the swing bridge last night, died while under anaesthetic this morning.
1948 September 13: During this weekend there has been great festivity in the Pa, with visitors from near and far. The reason – the opening of the round hall which has been rebuilt.
1949 Head Teacher, Mr Anneal. Roll 55.
1949 March 14: Moved by lorry school furniture to new site.
1949 June 20: Official opening of new school. The Right Honourable, the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, officially opened the school. The Prime Minister planted the first of twelve pohutukawa trees, donated by Mr Randall Sim of Wairoa.
1949 September 6: Roll number is 70.
1949 October 28: Quote from P.W.D. Wairoa for asphalting of driveway – £175 to £200 or about 5/- per square yard upwards.
Note: The Mohaka School Committee has a quote to reseal this same driveway today and the quote was 75 cents to $1.00 per square metre.
1950 February 1: Head teacher, Mr Annear. Roll 58.
1951 Roll 40 pupils.
1952 September 8: Roll 40 pupils.
1953 October 8: Roll 47 pupils. Removal of Bungalow from old school to new school.
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1954 Roll 52 pupils.
1955 January 17: Roll 47. Head teacher, Mr Annear leaves.
1955 February 24: New school committee elected: Mr W. Teaho (chairman), P.J. Alcock (secretary), Mrs McDonnell, Mrs F. Nehemia, Mrs G. Harvey, Mrs M. McIver.
1956 February 1: Roll 40.
1957 February 21: School committee elected: Mrs McIver (chairwoman), S. Bates (secretary), H. Nehemia, Mrs L. Nehemia, Mrs Harvey, Mr B. Tumataroa.
1957 February 27: Mr Henry, an electrician, called to inspect prior to tendering for school wiring for electric power which has come to Mohaka.
1957 July 31: First power in house and school at long last.
1958 February 3: School reopened with roll of 39.
1958 May 31: School committee meet at new school. New committee elected: Mrs M. McIver (chairwoman), Mr S. Bates (secretary/treasurer), Mrs S. Harvey, Mrs L. Nehemia, Mrs T. Joe, Mrs A. Wainohu. Roll 40.
1959 February 2: Roll 37.
1960 February 2: Roll 50.
1962 February 5: Roll 52.
1962 May 1: Mr Turbitt and assistant showed parents slides and gave talk on building of swimming baths. Mr Turbitt suggested that when £100 had been raised, the chairman and secretary should see H.B. Education Board secretary who would have to give authority to proceed.
1962 April 15: Gale-force winds. Swing bridge collapes [collapses].
1962 July 2: Discussion of opening of Mohaka bridge programme. Date is set for Saturday, 14th July at 2 p.m.
1962 July 14: 2 p.m. Mohaka bridge is officially opened.
1963 May 27: roll 53.
1963 August 9: County Council have begun work on levelling and preparing of the road from just past the hotel to up past the post office for sealing. Road will also be sealed past the school.
1963 November 18: The school committee is to meet a representative from the H.B. Education Board this afternoon to finalise the authority to commence work. A total of £320 has been raised and the remaining £70 is to be raised from local parents.
1963 November 18: Pool funds £390 18s 3d.
1964 Roll 45.
1964 March 7: Working bee dug out and trimmed banks of baths in preparation for work commencing on Monday.
1964 March 10: Television comes to Mohaka.
1964 April 13: Baths walls poured up to ground level.
1964 December 1: Baths completed.
1964 December 5: Council truck driver with M.O.W. tank on. Commenced filling baths, eight loads approximately, 6,400 gallons, with a long way left to go. Baths total approximately 17,500 gallons.
1964 December 16: Discussion of use of baths out of school hours. Charge of 3d per swim.
1964 December 18: Swimming commenced.
1965 Roll 50.
1965 March 6: School baths officially opened by Mr Martain, Inspector of Maori Schools. Mr Tait spoke for H.B. Education Board. Mr Paul Lemmel for the Maori people. The day was brilliantly fine and there was an excellent crowd and everyone seemed highly pleased with the finished project.
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1966 August 27: I took Sid Tuhi and three other boys from Raupunga, to Gisborne where the Wairoa 6st 7lb and under reps are playing a curtain raiser to the Lions vs. Poverty Bay-East Coast game. Poverty Bay reps superior to the boys from Wairoa and won 20-nil.
1966 November 17: Season ticket prices pool – 2/6d Mrs Pene’s room; 5/- Mr Pene’s room; 10/- all others.
1970 April 14: Completion of new toilet block.
1978 October 17: Sam Hunt, N.Z. poet, visited us.
1979 July 18: Centennial Committee formed.
1980 May 16-17-18: Mohaka School celebrations.
HIGHLIGHTS IN THE FIRST 100 YEARS OF SCHOOLING AT MOHAKA
With the education system now on a firm footing the roots of the education system began to spread and as early as 1872 William Colenso had written a letter to the Board in Napier expressing the need for a school at Mohaka. A copy of this letter follow:-
Napier, January 7th, 1878.
The Chairman
Education Board,
HAWKE’S BAY.
Sir,
I have the honour to transmit to you, enclosed, for the consideration of the Board, two sets of testimonials I have lately received from two school teachers – both of whom are applicants for situations in our Educational District.
The first is from Miss Burns, who is at present the teacher of the Government School at Ormond, Poverty Bar: she is desirous of leaving Ormond, partly on account of the smallness of the school there, she having been used to much larger schools, and partly on account of her health, wishing to be near to a medical man. She has long been a very useful in the Colony as her testimonials show, and having also seen her, I would strongly recommend her being appointed to the Port School, the late teacher there, Miss Sproule (now Mrs Smith) having lately resigned. I may further add, for the information of the Board, that Miss Burns present salary at Ormond is £100 per annum (she has received at the North, in larger rising schools over £150) while Miss Sproule’s salary (of late) had been considerably more than £100.
The second is from a Mr Harris, also a trained teacher and used to Colonial Schools, now at Wellington; of whom I know nothing more than what he has written, his testimonials, however, will speak for him. In reply to him, I said, I should lay his application before you at the next meeting.
I may in conclusion, remind the Board, that teachers are now wanted for the following schools, viz:- Port Napier, Porangahau and Petane, also for Te Aute and for Tarawera, and shortly (I hope) for Woodville, Wainui, and Mohaka, and of course if Miss Burns leaves Ormond for Napier that place – which I believe is now under the Hawke’s Bay Education Board will also want a teacher.
Please return me Miss Burn’s testimonials as they are valuable to her.
I have the honour to be,
Your most obedient servant
W. Colenso,
Inspector of Schools.
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The result of this letter and combined with the educational changes taking place at this time was to make the householders of the Mohaka area sit up and take notice.
The locals knew the need to educate their children and so by 1879 after a trip to Napier by some of the prominent members of Mohaka a householders meeting was called for on September the 9th 1879 at the local hall.
Results of this meeting was to elect the first School Committee for the Mohaka school. The chairman being Mr Andrew Craig. The minutes of the proceedings with reference to the establishment of a school was then forwarded to the H.B.E.B.
This information was received in Napier by the Board on the 19th September, 1879. The Board after due consideration an investigation acknowledged this Committee and agreed to supply apparatus and appliances immediately.
This news was received with restrained joy by the Committee for they now realised the major task they had set themselves, but their determination and drive to get this new school established was evident and soon all the householders were helping to organise for the new school. A Mr Strachan offered a site for the erection of a cottage for the teacher however, this was declined by the Board until such time as there were 20 permanent children on the school roll.
The first teacher was appointed in late December and was to arrive in Mohaka in the first week in February, 1880, to start the school.
Arriving at the jetty in the Mohaka river on a fine summer day in February, 1880, Miss Smith must have felt quite excited by her new appointment. Here was a teaching appointment that had a salary of £100 per annum in an area that was rapidly growing, had friendly people who indeed had come down to the river to welcome her to Mohaka.
The new teacher was to board in the local hotel and the school was a rented Whare in which the locals had put a wooden floor, the area of this room was 24 feet by 15 feet.
If one looks at the modern, well equipped two-roomed school with a staff room and fine residence for the Head Teacher, it is hard to imagine the tiny one-roomed building standing some 50 years from the river’s edge and set in beside a bank with very poor natural light in the classroom. You have to take your hat off to the fortitude of these early teachers, amazingly they were mostly all women.
However, the new school was started and Miss Smith was to have no easy task to gather the children and convince their parents that it was important that the children be sent to school on a regular basis. Parents objected to any punishment or kept back for lessons.
Unfortunately, our School Log between 1880 and 1885 has been lost so I am unable to say how long Miss Smith stayed, but we have the School Log from 1885 on and from this we can established an accurate record of the life in School.
As I said earlier the school was under the control of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board but the School Committee had a fair amount of control over the running of the school in that it could decide if the school was to be closed for any reason or the hours that should be worked.
By 1885 the School was under the control of Miss W. Hatton as Head Teacher and the hours worked in the school at that time were 9.30 a.m. with 1 ½ hours for lunch and closing at 4 p.m. including Saturdays. These hours were kept right up to about 1902. Before and after that date some protests by the parents about starting at the early time of 9.00 a.m. the school hours were changed to our present day hours.
The school was to face many trials and tribulations in its long history. The
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river was on many occasions to prevent the children from crossing. Sickness was also to play a major part in preventing children from coming to school. One takes our medical health service for granted nowadays, but there was a time when even a cold could be very serious and could result in death.
If the parent wanted the children for shearing or bush felling work they were taken from school. The older girls would on more than one occasion be needed at home to help with chores. On top of all this the state of the schoolroom was in sad need of repairs.
A school inspection in 1891 mentioned that the building should be painted both inside and out and a proper out offices be provided for use by pupils.
In 1894 Miss M. Balfour was appointed Headmistress. In that year a report state that “the discipline and tone are good, but more attention should be given to training the native children in manners. The building is in sad need of repair, it is quite rotten, being pitted throughout by the ravages of the wood beetle.
Mostly the children in the Prep. Classes are natives who attend school very irregularly and very few get beyond Standard 2.
1895 Miss E. Wright was appointed Headteacher and the school was closed for seven weeks during the winter owing to bad weather and alterations to the school building. The classroom at this time was described as being too small for the present attendance. The desk accommodation is altogether insufficient as half the pupils are doing work on the floor. The building is in sad need of repair, quite rotten, but the building in fact has been painted both inside and out.
In 1896 it was state that the Prep. Classes which made up the majority of pupils are in a very backward state. Very little is known of anything in writing, reading or even speaking the English language.
So the school struggles on into 1897 most of the school pupils are Maori and as they attend very irregular, little or no progress has taken place from one year to the other. Things could not go on like this as nothing was being achieved and so after a heated committee meeting it was suggested that the committee would make some effort to induce greater regularity among pupils perhaps by placing two or more Maoris of some standing on the committee and making them responsible for the attendance of the native children.
When Miss Roythorne was appointed Headteacher in 1899, 59 of the 62 pupils were native. The attendance was improving and some of the more forward Maori children encouraging the younger to attend more regularly. The Board was letting the school down in that the school building could hold 30 pupils easily and here we have a situation of 62 pupils and one teacher in a room 24ft by 15ft! The conditions would have been impossible to say the least, it can easily be understood that the results were poor and therefore not getting the parent’s support. Well, why send your strapping big son to school to learn nothing when he could be working on the farm or felling trees, was the attitude of some parents.
Something had to be done. The need for a new school was a must, so in 1901 the Chairman of the Committee and a deputation of the Maori people set aside a section as a new school site on which a new school was to be built. This site on the south side of the river and above the old school was about 2½ acres in area.
But it still took until 1906 before the new school and school house was built. And so on April the 19th, 1906, Mr Miller the Headmaster at that time could say in his log book: “The new school is now a reality, it is a pleasure both to Miss Ferguson and myself to have a separate room. We had 18 months with a roll of 96 in a room 24ft
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x 15ft. as the months rolled on we seemed to get deeper into a muddle. I had pitched a tent and tried teaching outside, this failed for the children saw everybody and everything passing. On wet days we could do simply nothing but keep order. We often had 10 in a seat. These were supposed to hold five, we had children sitting on the floor.”
Once again I ask the reader to sit and reflect on what has been written, it is hard to imagine isn’t it?
Even with the new school built troubles were still to plague the school for there was now a lack of desks and many requests were made to the Board for these. By 1908 an inspector’s report state “Attention is again drawn to the urgent need for furniture.”
The master has to sit at one of the desks provided for children and the inspector has to stand and manage his work during examinations.
The master complained that with the help of the mistress he had to scrub the school floor and windows and although the committee had ample funds he was unable to obtain the barest necessities for the school.
Well, if one is persistent enough things will come right, and this it seems is what started to happen. In 1911 it was reported that school was continuing to make satisfactory progress and the order, discipline and tone was commendable.
Then in 1922 it was stated “A spirit of keenness and enthusiasm pervades all. The children take a keen interest in their work”. It was also reported that there was evidence that a great deal of work had gone into the carefully laid grounds.
In March, 1926 the school was taken over the Education Department to be administered as a Native School and so things went along pretty well for the next few years.
The following is a text of a letter written to the department by Mr E.J. Wills, the Headmaster, regarding damage to the school as a result of the Napier earthquake. The roll of the school at this time stood at 113.
“I scribbled a telegram in the off-chance of your getting it either by wire or plane. Now that the worst is over (I sincerely hope) you will probably be interested to know how things stand. The fact that the school clock was five minutes fast saved the situation. The shock came sudden and without warning. I was in school putting the gramophone away and with me were about half a dozen children who were getting something from their lunches for “morning tea”. I told them to run and barely was the last one past me at the door when the room cupboard hurled forward smashing the other glass in the classroom door and bringing with it shelves of books, gramophone records etc. should more children have been in, undoubtedly the cupboard would have crashed on them and the story would have been more tragic. Mrs Wills has a bruised arm, black and blue from the shoulder to the elbow through being hurled against the wall in escaping from her room. No infants were in school. The stock cupboard burst open the locked and bolted door and there is a mess of paper, supplies, science apparatus, and some of the medical supplies all mixed up on the floor.
When I got outside the school appeared to swing over to 60° with the ground, then to the same the other way. The bell on the wall rang furiously throughout. The new stoves had not arrived and the old ones are a crumbled mess. There was a terrible roar throughout the shake, the cliffsides along the river collapsing in many places, and about a mile from the school a large headland has been hurled out to sea from the cliffs, it must reach out into the bay more than fifteen chains, and towers up into the air almost as high as the cliffs themselves. A strip about six feet wide sank in the school ground varying from 3” to 12”. The tank-stand against the wall was included in its path and that helped I suppose, in hurling the tank, new
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when I came, so that now it is like a crumpled paper. The house tanks are crumpled tubes, no tops or bottoms. The house chimney is the only one standing as far as I know in the whole district, it is an inside concrete chimney and the house is holding it up! No great consolation to us when we hear of Mr Gaddam’s house being practically pulled to pieces by the concrete chimneys which fell pulling ceilings and walls with them. All the paper friezes which we put up on the school walls are torn to pieces.
We are isolated. No mail or telephone service. All we have seen are planes passing overhead, and one which circled over us and returned to Napier.
The hotel and a private house were burnt. Ours must have had two wonderful escapes from the same fate. The kerosene lamps and stove upset on the floor, and the fire doors fell off the stove but no embers or fire fell out. When we were digging up our year’s supply of jam, preserves, etc off the pantry floor, I found some charred paper and other evidence of fire. Evidently the jam had done its work, if unusual for it!
From here, or at least in the pa, we could see the huge clouds of smoke announcing the fate of a lot of Napier.
The only link we have had to date with the outside world is my wireless set. The speaker is smashed and the set queer, but through it we gleaned the fate of Napier. Now the battery is down and I have to do the best with a short wave set adapted to broadcast result – we nearly hear what is said. All the people of this side of the river came to hear the wireless news and while they listened as best they could, the ground was atremble all the time and every extra hard pump would cause them to jump and run – something like schoolboys with a big fire cracker. But everyone has nerves and no wonder. A bridge contractor and his men soon came to the school and helped me and my staff safely deliver all the children to their parents.
The foundations of the school were shaked – a fountain pen could be dropped in by the posts on any side. Settlers living below banks or near the river were given permission by me to camp in the grounds and bungalow. No one would think of using the school. The river stopped flowing for many hours, but is running at normal again. You may be sure fear of flood brought the river bed settlers up on to the terraces.
Later: Have been over the roads and they are absolutely unsafe for running the bus. Will do my best to get going again when the country is settled. The school is out of plumb by several inches.
I have engaged two men to dismantle the chimney and will pay them myself just now.
(Signed)
E.J. Wills.
The Mangaturunga School which had been opened in 1929 to accommodate some of the ever increasing flow of pupils coming from Raupunga way due to the construction of the railways, was to be closed as the new Raupunga School had opened in May, 1934. A vote of householders was taken so as to split up the two schools to find who was going to what school. The Mangaturunga School had been under the control of the Mohaka School Committee and head teacher.
The headteacher at that time noted that with the new native school at Raupunga being opened the future of either of these schools is hard to foresee. Raupunga if anything is the more doubtful proposition, but it may grow or decay!
Well, we now know that Raupunga has grown and Mohaka in actual fact has been the one to decay. It is interesting to note that these statements of some 46 years ago and realise that Mohaka was still an important township at that time.
April the 25th, 1938, Anzac Day was to bring a tremendous flood in the river
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and wash half the bridges away and completely isolate Mohaka’s southern side and with it the school’s pupils by half. By May 2nd a temporary cage had to be erected to swing over the river but this was not very satisfactory as it took three men to pull four children across to school.
However, a swing bridge was under construction and was in use by May 6th, but it took a long time for pupils and residents alike to get used to this bridge.
Mohaka Maori School was in its original position connected to the “rest of civilisation” by means of a perilous swing bridge. This bridge did not give the children or teachers any great feeling of security when crossing, especially on windy days when danger to the people was a real concern.
All supplies for the school and teachers had to be carried across it.
However, the school was still flourishing and in 1939 the Director of Education sent a letter to the headmaster of the Native School complimenting him on the way the school was run and the Department’s gratification in observing the progress that had been made in that year.
But the access to the school in its now isolated position across the river was far from satisfactory. Many of the pupils unable to cross the swingbridge on a regular basis. This was to be the case until on the 19th April, 1948, when the contractors moved on to a new school site on the southern [northern] side of the river.
The new school and school house was built on the site as we know it today. It was completed by May, 1949 but the changeover from the old school was slow due to holdups in the supplying of furniture and miscellaneous times required for the new school. However, things were to come right and by 20th June 1949, the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Mr Fraser was to officially open the new school and so close a part of history on the old Mohaka School, with all its trials and achievements.
The new school was to be a good morale booster and the school was to work well. The need for swimming baths was realised and so in 1963 fund-raising activities got under way.
With a school roll of 45, £400 was raised as the School Committee’s share of the cost, the Education Board to meet the rest. The raising of £400 would have been quite an effort in those days, and I can only say that the children and locals still enjoy this swimming pool today.
Construction of the pool started on 19th December, 1963 with a big part of the work being voluntary labour. A further £50 was raised to cover increased costs, and so after some 12 months of construction the pool opened for swimming on 18th December, 19645. Officially opened on Saturday, 6th March 1965 by Mr J. Martin, Inspector of Maori Schools.
And so our little school comes into the 1980s with a willing heart and knowing full well that the generations past have put their confidence in them, for we believe that the principal goal of education is to create men and women who are capable of doing new things not simply repeating what other generations have done.
Bear in mind that children of all ages have one thing in common; They close their ears to advice and open their eyes to example.
Perhaps the school has had it’s troubles in the past but there have been many good and enjoyable times, of triumph and times of failure.
I would like to thank you for your time.
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LIST OF TEACHERS FROM RECORDS AVAILABLE
Householder meeting held 9th September, 1879.
Mohaka School opened February, 1880. First teacher, Miss Smith.
Reopened 25th January, 1885. Miss W. Hatton, Headmistress;
Mr John Sim, Chairman of School Committee.
Head Assistant
1886 Miss Millar
February 14th 1887 Mr R.A. Pirani
March 1887 Mr L. Douglas
December 14th 1888 Mr L. Douglas leaves
January 28th 1889 Miss Millar returns
May 30th 1890 Miss Millar leaves
August 6th 1890 Miss Jane Redman
October 19th 1893 Miss Bell
1894 Miss M. Balfour
1895 Miss E. Wright
1899 Miss Roythorne
February 11th 1904 Mr Wilson
October 5th 1904 Miss Webb
December 15th 1904 Miss Webb leaves
February 6th 1905 Mr Millar Miss Ferguson
December 1908 Mr Millar leaves
February 1909 M.J. Nelson
March 3rd 1909 Miss Ferguson leaves
1909 Miss Thomson
May 5th 1913 Mr Stagpole
July 1st 1913 Mr Stagpole leaves
August 1st 1913 Mr John Harper Miss Ward temporary
February 10th 1914 Miss Mortleman
April 8th 1914 Miss Mortleman leaves
1914 Miss Pedley
November 3rd 1914 Miss Pedley leaves
November 11th 1914 Miss Lehndorf
February 12th 1915 Miss Sevens
July 3rd 1916 Miss Florence Higgins Miss Stevens, Miss Webb, Miss Butler
May 24th 1918 Miss Higgins leaves
June 5th 1918 Miss I. Kaye
July 31st 1918 I. Kaye resigns
August 5th 1918 Mr H. Parker Smith
July 16th 1918 Miss Rose Stephenson
February 19th 1920 Miss Stephenson resigns
March 24th 1920 D. McKay 2nd Asst.
October 27th 1920 Miss Butler left after 3½ years service
March 24th 1920 Mr H. Parker Smith resigns
1921 Mr A.S. Harper
September 26th 1922 Miss Phillips
June 30th 1923 Mr William Black
1924 Mr O’Donnell
1926 Mr E.J. Wills
1934 Miss A.J. Findlay
1939 Mr W.A.B. Goodwin
1940 Mr W.A.B. Goodwin Mrs D.M. Goodwin, Miss Kane, Miss Shaw
1941 Mr O.J.M. Clark Mrs W.M. Clark
1942 Mr H.J. Priestley Mrs Beale, Miss Huata
1943 Mr H.J. Rimmer Mrs A.C. Rimmer
1947 Mr Bruce Crowley Miss S. Te Nahu
1948 Mr R.G.C. Cottrell G.J. Annear
1949 Mr G.J. Annear
1951 M.A. McKay
1952 Miss N.K. Healey
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1955 Mr P.S. Alcock
1957 Mr B. Green E. Anderson
1958 Mr S.L. Bates Mrs N. Bates
1959 Mr S.L. Bates Mrs N. Bates
1962 Mr S.N. Berghan
1966 Mr A.J. Pene Mrs Pene
1968 Mrs Y. Jones Mr K. Gardner, Mrs Stuart
1969 Mr H. Everitt Mrs L. Everitt
1974 Mr M.T. Brown Mrs K. Adsett
1975 Mr Raymon Joe Mrs M.J. Stirling
1975 Mr Roger Bennett (May) Mrs D.E. Bennett
1978 Mr Paul Hedley (May),
Reliever and Sole Charge
1980 Mr David Hadley Mrs H. Hooper, teachers aide for 10 years
ONE MINUTES SILENCE
TO
The Memory of past Students of the Mohaka School
1880 1890
For Service to God, Queen and Country
World War 1
World War 2
Malaya
Korea
Vietnam
Those who died at home and in
The Ravages of War on the banks of the Mohaka River
“They gave Their Today for our Tomorrow”
They shall not grow old as we who are here grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We shall remember them.
Eternal Father, in all Humility
We Dedicate to Thy Great Glory the Memory of our
Dear Brothers who have made the Supreme Sacrifice,
We Bless Thee for their courage and devotion and we
Pray Thee to crown with Thy loving mercy the offering
Of their lives. May Your countenance grant them
Eternal peace and light perpetual ever shine upon them
Through Him who Died and rose again for us all.
Thy Son Jesus Christ Our Lord.
AMEN
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SCHOOL ROLL 1880 – 1980
1880 – 1890
White, Surtees
McGrath, Robina
Cribb, Anne
Bee, Laura
Hawkins, Henry
Bee, Annie
Cribb, Grace
White, Ida
McGrath, Jessie
Starkie, Agnes
Starkie, Mary
Sim, Florence
Sim, Jane
McGrath, Henry
Bee, Kate
Bee, Bessie
Rewi, Hawi
Peripei, Periperi
Ishmeal, Paul
Robson, Thomas
Helab Joseph
White, Daisy
Cooper, Kini
Keefe, Margaret
Keefe, Ami
Pani, Mary-Anne
Harawira, Ellen
McIver, Donald
McIver, Robert
Sim, Joanna
McGrath, Elizabeth
Harawira, Hona
Bee, Fanny
Ross, Phoebe
McGrath, Lizzie
McMillan, Mary
McMillan, Sarah
Ross, John
Gemmell, Margaret
McIver, Murdoch
Waipea, Henry
Bee, George
Coglan, William
Ross, Frank
1891 – 1901
McIver, Robert
Redman, James
McGrath, Nora
McIver, Murdoch
McGrath, Henry
Bee, Kate
Bee, Bessie
Ross, Phoebe
Bee, Fanny
Ross, John
McGrath, Allan
Ishmeal, Albert
Iriapa
McGrath, Lizzie
McMillan, Sarah
Ross, Frank
Hingston, Ernest
Logan, Wallace
Logan, Graham,
Waipia, Henry
Walker, Patrick
Hingston, Ida
McMillan, Archibald
Joe, Hori
McMillan, Donald
Hingston, Lily
Waipia, Nile
Hawea, Jane
Puru, Polly
Ross, Jack
Dew, Laura
Bee, George
McMillan, William
Mehaka, Pomene
Penapia, Muera
Hawkins, Jack
Hawkins, Joe
Hingston, George
Hawkins, John
Hawkins, Mary
Tiki, Wi
Peakman, Redge
Ataria, Hattie
Netunga
Hawi, Thomson
Kere, Ahipene
Wainohu, John
Black, William
Hawkins, Sam
Goodall, George
Hawi, Robert
Gamel, Charlie
Keefe, Hipora
Keefe, Mini
Roberts, Martha
Cooper Rawea
Waihape, Ruke
Brandon, Cathie
Hawkins, Lucy
Penapia, Nome
Hawkins, Lena
Pomene, Eliza
Pomene, Hiria
Findlay, Emma
Bee, Nellie
Mitchell, John
Spooner, August
Wairoa, Harry
Ross, Daisy
Hawkins, Ellen
Hawkins, Gertrude
Rigby, Ellen
Nicholson, Edward
Nicholson, Queenie
Hawkins, Tilly
Harawea, Hune
Rauapia, Robina
Rauapia, Hana
Tumataroa, Hiria
McMillan, Kate
Te Kahika, Ropitini
McMillan, Jim
Joe, Renata
Wainohu, Jim
Goodall, Thomas
Hata, Joe
Te Kahi, Tau
Goodall, Maggie
Ropiana, Maku
Rauapia, Tu
Rauapia, Tom
Te Kahika, Barney
Wairoa, Bunny
Waiapu, Puki
Hawkins, Ned
Nehemia, Ernest
Keefe, Heni
Haerangarangi, Mary
Waipia, Mary
Gemmell, Jane
Rauapia, Mary
Keefe, Mary
Ross, Frank
Hingston, Anne
Nehemia, Natene
Hawkins, Len
Wairoa, Henry
Keefe, Alice
Hodges, Henry
Hata, Joe
Paul Kingi
Te Kahika, Peter
Tumataroa, Lucky
Church, Venna
James, Amy
Atahiri, Jack
1902 – 1912
Aranui, Ellen
Aranui, George
Aranui, Alice
Aranui, James
Aranui, Louisa
Bourke, Molly
Brown, Alsie
Brown, Nellie
Brown, Florence
Brown, Ellen
Brown, Hony
Broughton, Kate
Broughton, Harry
Broughton, Henry
Black, Jack
Chapman, Stewart
Church, Hena
Church, Neilia
Church, Isobel
Church, Maude
Church, Nena
Church, Queenie
Church, Corrie
Church, Abe
Coker, Alice
Coker, Eva
Coker, Lily
Coker, Sissy
Cooper, Henry
Page 45
Cooper, Polly
Cross, Percy
Erimana, Wi
Erimana, Huki
Erimana, Ruki
Frost, Greshan
Frost, John
Gemmell, Jane
Gemmell, Same
Gemmell, Willie
Gemmell, John
Gemmell, Bessie
Gemmell, Bilie
Greenside, Bessie
Greenside, Monty
Greenside, Bertie
Greenside, Jessie
Gordon, Nana
Goodall, Mary
Hawera
Huiki, Henry
Hodges, Henry
Hall, Willie
Hodges, Miriam
Harawera, Mita
Hawkins, Sophia
Hira
Hawkins, Edward
Hawkins, Ned
Haua, Karen
Hapeta, Moroate
Hawkins, Gussie
Hawkins, Hira
Hawi, George
Hawkins, Kara
Hokianga, Polly
Hawkins, Ellen
Hawi, May
Huki, Alice
1913 – 1923
Aranui, James
Aranui, Hemi
Aranui, Kitty
Aranui, Ena
Broughton, Henry
Biddle, Maude
Biddle, Jock
Brown, Visler
Broughton, Paratene
Black, Muriel
Black, Hubert
Broughton, William
Biddle, Hiria
Dorman, George
Erimana, Huki
Ermana, Rutene
Erikana, Taki
Erika, Hemi
Frost, Gresham
Findlay, Amy
Findlay, Miriana
Gemmell, John
Gordon, Nana
Gemmell, Paul
Gemmell, Haki
Gemmell, Dick
Gemmell, Richard
Gibbons, Jack
Gibbons Mary
Gemmell, Mihi
Gemmell, Tom
Hawkins, Hilda
Hawkins, Moana
Hawkins, Mari
Hapeta, Materua
Hawkins, Nane
Hawkins, Sidney
Hera, John
Hawkins, Matekino
Harawira, Bella
Hawkins, Sonny
Hawkins, Lilly
Hapeta, Mordate
Hokianga, Lodge
Henderson, Ida
Huata, Polly
Henderson, Elfton
Hawkins, Jack
Hawkins, Mauri
Hera, Rora
Hodges, Lodge
Hira, Ku
Hawi, George
Hawkins, Ben
Henderson, Len
Hawkins, Willie
Hokianga, Alice
Hokianga, Maggie
Hira, John
Henderson, Leonard
Hawkins, William
Hawkins, David
Hawkins Waiera
Hancy, Riria
Hapeta, John
Hancy, Amy
Hungahunga, Albert
Hawkins, Paddy
Hawkins, Hine
Hungahunga, Miriam
Hapeta, Rueben
Joe, Joe
Joe, Martin
Joe, Milly
Joe, George
Joe, Hori
Joe, Tio
Johnstone, Jean
Joe, Sydney
Joe, Girlie
Keefe, Ni
Karauria, Polly
Karauria, Hemoheere
Karauria, Kura
Kupa, June
Kainamu, Pani
Keefe, Millie
Keefe, Titi
Lemuel, Api
Lewis, Sonny
Littlejohn, Stewart
Lemuel, Munga
Littlejohn, McKay
Muir, Jean
Mahood, Florence
Mahood, William
Mahood, Irene
Mahunga, Wairata
Mahunga, Hemi
Martin, George
McKain, George
McKain, Ella
McMillan, Lily
McKain Rhonda
McKain, William
McIver, Allan
McIver, Gordon
McIver, Willie
McKain, John
McIver, Norman
McDonnell, James
McGrath, Vera
McIver, Leslie
McKain, Margery
McIver, Douglas
Natane, Andrew
Nehemia, Renata
Ngakuru, HewHew
Ngakuru, Kahu
Ngakuru, Rangi
Natane, Isabel
Nehemia, Polly
Nehemia, Jock
Nehemia, Rueben
Prince, John
Pitiera, Henry
Pera, Bunny
Pera, Whaironga
Pitiera, Wetini
Pitiera, Henare
Paul, Hannah
Pitiera, Hori
Pere, Harvey
Pera, Aporo
Pitiera, Tuki
Paul, Kara
Peakman, Jas
Potinui, Ria
Renata, Jack
Renata, Pa
Renata, David
Ratcliffe, Clare
Ratcliffe, Leslie
Ratcliffe, Cyril
Ratcliffe, Dorothy
Ratcliffe, Adelaide
Rueben, Jane
Renata, Eliza
Renata, Makeri
Ropitini, Ben
Sim, John
Sim, Iona
Stewart, Polly
Stewart, Lovey
Stewart, Edgar
Stewart, Thomas
Sim, Gina
Spooner, Wiki
Sim, Bob
Stewart, Esme
Sim, Robert
Sim, Randall
Page 46
Tait, Elizabeth
Tait, Sutherland
Tait, Isobel
Tio, Tio
Tio, Milly
Takahe, Merepeka
Thurbon, Linda
Thompson, Colin
Tekahi, Merepika
Teaho, Leila
Thomspon, Polly
Tekahu, William
Te Tau, Leslie
Tekahu, Selina
Te Urupu, Queenie
Tekahu, Kapu
Walker, Gordon
Wood, Janet
Walker, David
Walker, Mihi
Walker, Manuera
Walker, Maria
Wilson, Maude
Walker, Alma
Walker, Hira
Walker Sydney
Walker, John
Walker, Kaa
McIver, Almi
Kuiu, John
Hapeta, Mutema
Ngakuni, Rangi
Hata, Walter
Kururima, Pam
Hodges, Dottie
Rewiti, Tangi
Isaac, Sonny
Lemuel, Iritani
Pera, Mate
Mitchell, Wiki
1924 – 1934
Akuira, Baby
Anaru, Berlah
Aranui, Ena
Aranui, Kara
Aranui, Lovie
Benjoe, Caroline
Biddle, Hiria
Black, Hubert
Boswell, Betty
Boswell, Graham
Boyde, Gabrielle
Breodie, Bessie
Brodie, Maois
Broughton, William
Brown, Joan
Brown, Noleen
Burton, Cissie
Burton, Sommie
Burton, Tom
Dornan, George
Dornan, James
Erikana, Tuki
Eriha, Terehu
Eriha, Hemi
Ellingham, John
Ellingham, Claude
Eriha, Polly
Faulkner, Cora
Gemmell, Paul
Gemmell, Haki
Gemmell, Mihi
Gemmell, Thomas
Gibbons, Mary
Gibbons, John
Gibbons, Muriel
Gibbons, Nancy
Gillespie, Betty
Gillespie, Jim
Gaffey, Rex
Garland, Joyce
Hawkins, William
Hawkings, Waiwera
Hawkins, Paddy
Hawkins, Noti
Hawkins, Moses
Hawkins, Queenie
Hawkins, Sonny
Hawkins, Bernice
Hawkins, Hine
Hawkins, Pat
Hawkins, Rangi
Hawkins, Margaret
Hawkins, Alvi
Hawkins, Mary
Hawkins, Mary
Hawkins, Lucy
Hawkins, Whati
Hawkins, Walker
Hancy, Riria
Hancy, Charles
Hancy, Regina
Hancy, Ellen
Hancy, Amy
Hungahunga, Albert
Hungahunga, Miriam
Hungahunga, Caroline
Hungahunga, England
Hungahunga, David
Hungahunga, Carlo
Hungahunga, John
Hapeta, Rueben
Hapeta, Mignionette
Hodges, Naki
Hodges, Francis
Hodges, Sophire
Hodges, James
Hamilton, Margaret
Hamilton, Mary
Hokianga, Polly
Hokianga, Noreen
Hirini, Leigh
Hirini, Joan
Joe, Girlie
Joe, Winnie
Joe, Rachel
Joe, Dennis
Joe, Roger
Jago, Margaret
Jago, Kathleen
Keefe, Millie
Keefe, Mary
Keefe, Margaret
Keefe, Sam
Keefe, John
Keefe, Violet
Keefe, Wi
Keefe, Dick
Keefe, Kotukukiterangi
Keefe, Rora
Gaddum, Richard
Keefe, Titi
Kainamu, Lulu
Kainamu, Mangu
Lewis, Mate
Lweis, Kathleen
Lewis, Rosie
Lewis, George
Mahunga, Wairata
Mahunga, Hemi
Murphy, Doreen
Murphy, Patrick
Murphy, Timothy
Murphy, Maurice
Murphy, Philipa
Murphy, Desmond
Martin, George
Murphy, Michael
Muir, James
McGrath, Vera
McGarthy, Durrance
McGarthy, Brian
McIver, Alec
McIver, Ronald
McIver, Heather
McIver, Douglas
McIver, Betty
McIver, Leslie
McIver, Robert
McIver, Bruce
McKain, Duglas
McKain, Fred
McKain, Joe
McIntyre, William
McIntyre, Alex
McRoberts, Fred
McKenzie, Natley
McIver, Norman
Nehemia, Rueben
Pitiera, Tuki
Ngarangione, David
Nicol, James
Neil, Ray
Nicolson, Francis
Nicolson, Waka
Nicolson, Lovie
Putaranui, Okirena
Putaranui, Belgium
Putaranui, Robert
Porima, Kahu
Paul, Moana
Pohio, Paul
Parkes, Josephine
Renata, Liza
Renata, Makere
Porima, Teta
Porima, Eliza
Ropitini, Ben
Ropitini, Jas
Ropitini, James
Ropitini, Ria
Ropitini, Isaac
Robin, Lena
Robinson, Margaret
Page 47
Robinson, Pearce
Robinson, Isaac
Robinson, Charlotte
Robinson, Walter
Rakau, Hirawea
Ropihana, Francis
Rattray, Edgar
Rattray, Pat
Rattray, Doreen
Rakau, Hila
Sim, Robert
Sim, Randell
Stewart, Esme
Stewart, Dick
Stewart, Wi
Stuart, Gemmell
Stewart, Clarry
Spooner, Joe
Spooner, Pahira
Spooner, Rowena
Spooner, Olga
Spooner, Jean
Spooner, Tom
Te Kahu, William
Te Kahu, Selina
Te Kahu, Kapu
Te Kahu, Marie
Te Kahu, Lily
Torowhiti, Sydney
Torowhiti, Ka
Te Urupu, Queenie
Te Urupu, Daisy
Te Urupu, Magdalene
Te Urupu, Theresa
Te Kahika, Edward
Te Kahika, Rangi
Te Kahika, Mary-Anne
Te Kahika, Amy
Te Kahika, Barney
Te Kahika, Mina
Te Aho, Mako
Te Aho, Romeo
Te Aho, David
Te Aho, William
Te Aho, Walker
Te Aho, Harriett
Te Aho, Basil
Te Aho, Sonny
Te Aho, Charles
Te Aho, Paora
Tumataroa, Paora
Tumataroa, Ruhia
Tumataroa, Philip
Tumataroa, Ken
Tumataroa, Okeroa
Tumataroa, Susie
Tumataroa, John
Tumataroa, Guy
Tumataroa, Beauty
Te Wainohu, Patrick
Te Wainohu, John
Thompson, Arthur
Thompson, Richard
Te Tau, Leslie
Te Amo, Puke
Waihape, Rutene
Waihape, Puke
Waihape, James
Waihape, Margaret
Waihape, Henry
Waihape, Willie
Walker, Kaa
Walker, Sydney
Wainohu, Patrick
Wainohu, Padre
Wainohu, Everlyn
Wainohu, Heemi
Whare, Victoria
Wairoa, Duke
Wairoa, Amy
Waimoana, Benjamin
Hancy, Hiria
Gemmell, Sammy
1935 – 1945
Aranui, Aerial
Aranui, Walter
Aranui, Iriapa
Aranui, Heeni-Mabel
Aranui, Kara
Aranui, Hector
Aranui, Janey
Anaru, Rosie
Anaru, Nepia
Brosnahan, Pat
Brosnahan, Joseph
Atkinson, Henrietta
Bonnington, Elizabeth
Boswell, Patricia
Boswell, Graham
Beale, Georffrey
Beale, Alice
Cooper, Dorothy
Cooper, Robin
Cooper, Phyliss
Cooper, Laurie
Cooper, Douglas
Cooper, Leslie
Cooper, Fay
Cooper Albert
Bonnington, Janet
Crawford, Margaret
Crawford, Sydney
Crawford, Margie
Gaddum, Dianne
Gaddum, Jacqualine
Flavell, Laurie
Goodwin, Marie
Goodwin, Anne
Goodwin, Susan
Gemmell, Muta
Hawkins, Alec
Hawkins, George
Hawkins, Keith
Hawkins, Colin
Hawkins, Hector
Hawkins, Murea
Hawkins, Tuppy
Hawkins, Jocelyn
Hawkins, Alvi
Hawkins, Lucy
Hawkins, Walker
Hawkins, Hana-Phyliss
Hawkins, Tai
Hawkins, Walter
Hawkins, Myra
Hawkins, John
Hawkins, Henry-Hodges
Hawkins, Robina
Hawkins, Hukepo-Jacky
Hawkins, Archie
Hawkins, Betty
Hawkins, Rose
Hauwai, Rangi,
Hawkins, Hupiepo
Hapeta, Nini
Hapeta, Mary-Alice
Hapeta, Hapeta
Hokianga, Marge
Hokianga, Mino
Hokianga, Hila
Hokianga, Tuta
Hokianga, Sally
Hokianga, Whiteoa
Hokianga, Pohiri
Hokianga, Petau
Hapeta, Materoa
Huata-Stewart, Emmeline
Hirini, Kathleen
Hirini, Lena
Hirini, Caroline
Hirini, November
Hirini, Huki
Hirini, Paea
Hurunui, Wharepika
Hokianga, Bunny
Hamilton, Sammy
Joe, Anita
Joe, Everlyn
Joe, Bluett
Joe, Alice
Joe, Dickie
Joe, Rangi-Sandy
Joe, Roger
Joe, Ramon-Pokia
Joe, Hinemanu
Keefe, Pira
Keefe, Geoffrey
Lewis, Ruth
Lewis, Koea
Lewis, Walter
Lewis, Gemmell
Lewis, Susie
Lewis, Josephine
Lewis, Helen
Lewis, Ivy
Metcalfe, Jean
Mitchell, Lovie
Matches, Charles
Matches, David
McGarthy, Brian
McMillan, Margaret
Nicolson, Reo
Natene, Natene
Nehemia, Iritana
Nehemia, Nita
Nehemia, Martha
Nehemia, Bessie
Pomana, Nick
Pomana, Jimmy
Pomana, Vera
Page 48
Pomana, John
Pomana, Mabel
Pere, Mate
Pere, Huia
Pere, Leo
Pere, Monica
Poerangi, Materua
Peacock, Basil
Poerangi, Kate
Paul, David
Robinson, Ron
Robinson, Pearse
Robinson, Walter
Robinson, Robbie
Rattray, Doreen
Rattray, Colleen
Sim, Rod
Sim, Michael
Sim, Pauline
Spooner, Reg
Spooner, Tommy
Stewart, Ngaru
Stewart, Manuel
Stewart, Putiputi
Stewart, Garry
Smith, Nellie
Smith, Tangi
Smith, Tiki
Te Kahu, Rene
Te Kahu, Lily
Te Kahu, Marie
Te Kahu, Maurice
Te Aho, Richard
Te Aho, Ivy
Te Aho, Albert
Te Aho, Paulie
Te Aho, Charlie
Te Aho, Harriett
Te Aho, Violet
Te Aho, Ritchie
Te Aho, Kingi
Te Aho, Hemo
Te Kahika, Dinny
Te Kahika, Mary-Anne
Te Kahika, Mina
Te Kahika, Mihi
Te Kahika, Barney
Te Urupu, Maude
Thompson, Richard
Williams, Piki
Wanekau, Winnie
Wanekau, Thompson
Watson, Julia
Watson, Alfred
Wanekau, Hekera
Wanekau, Tau
Wainohu, Angus
Wainohu, Evelyn
Wainohu, Heemi
Wainohu, Regina
Wainohu, Jimmy
Wainohu, Charlie
Wanekau, Lily
Wanekau, Ian
Wairoa, Duke
Wairoa, Amy
Wairoa, Violet
Wairoa, Winnie
Winitana, George
Beale, Kelly
Huata, Miriam
Hirini, Hiritangi
Hapeta, Lillian
Lewis, Ngahine
Hokianga, Joseph
Hawkins, Bonnie
Hamilton, Henry
McIver, Rangi
McIver, Ian
McDonnell, Ella
Onekawa, David
Te Aho, Hana
Te Aho, Sophie
Te Aho, Thelma
Wilson, Lora
Tolk, Thelma
Bayly, Fred
Murphy, Justin
1946 – 1956
Annear, Graeme
Aranga, Kathleen
Aranui, Boy
Aranui, Atareta
Aranui, Eileen
Beale, Kellie
Beale, Alice
Beale, Geofrey
Bartlett, Ricky
Blunden, Billie
Blunden, Sally
Bush, Hikurangi
Crawford, Margie
Coyle, Douglas
Coyle, Nita
Copeland, Ken
Denton, Brian
Denton, Leslie
Denton, Judith
Denton, John
Dunn, Tony
Dunn, Roger
Davey, Colin
Day, Alrina
Flavell, Laurie
Flavell, Eric-Douglas
Flavell, Keith
Gibson, Roger
Grant, Ahipene
Hamilton, Sammy
Hamilton, Henry
Hamilton, Pauline
Hawkins, Bonnie
Hawkins, Jackie
Hawkins, Hana
Hawkins, Myra
Hawkins, John
Hawkins, Muera
Hawkins, Woosie
Hawkins, Mal
Hawkins, Hannah
Hawkins, Richard
Hawkins, Diana
Hawkins, Rangi
Hawkins, Josephine
Hawkins, Mervyn
Hokianga, Petau
Hokianga, Pohere
Hokianga, Cecil
Hokianga, Joseph
Hokianga, Okeroa
Hokianga, Rangi
Hokianga, Awhi
Hirini, Caroline
Hirini, November
Hirini, Paea
Hirini, Hiritangi
Hirini, Aroha
Hirini, Huki
Hirini, John
Hirini, Star
Hapeta, Lilian
Hapeta, Wattie
Hapeta, Hapeta
Huata, Miriam
Hema, Dickie (Henry)
Heta, Hapeta
Hauwai, Rakaipaka
Hauwai, Florence
Hauwai, Betty
Harvey, Horna
Harvey, Hori
Harvey, Hiki
Harvey, Amiria
Hira, Kuiwai
Haronga, Mako
Horne, Ian
Hodges, Abel
Horne, Joy
Hodges, Patrick
Hodges, Isabel Ann
Hapuku, Karauria
Hapuka, Kararaina
Hollamby, Hazel
Heta, Ngarau
Hura, Eddie
Hapuku, Caroline
Hooper, Reggie
Joe, Sandy-Rangi
Joe, Manu
Joe, Allen
Joe, Billa
Joe, Dan
Keepa, Sidi
King Roger
Kipa, Eric
Lewis, Ngahine
Marrah, Lily
Marrah, William
Mitchell, Joe
Message Errol
Message, Clifford
Message, Gloria
Maynard, Philip
McIver, Rangi
McIver, Beverley
McIver, Roger
McIver Ian
McIver, Leslie
McDonnell, Ella
McDonnell, Lu James
Page 49
McDonnell, Josephine
McDonnell, Marlene (Dina)
Nehemia, Martha
Nehemia, Nita
Nehemia, Bessie
Nehemia, Ken
Nehemia, Faenza
Nehemia, Jerome
Nehemia, Isobel
Nehemia, Walker
Puna, Freda
Paerangi, Katie
Parata, Winnie
Parata, Roger
Parata, Henry
Papuni, Raymond
Papuni, Jacquiline
Rattray, Cicely
Robinson, William
Robinson, Thomas
Ramera, Pauline
Ruki, Robert
Stewart, Eddie
Stewart, Julia
Stewart Olivia
Stewart, Libya
Stewart, Noel
Stuart, Vernon
Stevens, Ann
Spooner, Hariata
Spooner, Freda
Te Aho, Billy
Te Aho, Thelma
Te Aho, Hana
Te Aho, Sophie
Te Aho, Kingi
Te Aho, Barbara Phillipa
Te Aho, Truby
Te Aho, David
Te Tau, Billy
Te Tau, Mihi
Te Aho, William
Te Aho, Doris
Te Kahu, Wi
Thomas, Sandra
Te Kahika, Billy
Tawhai, Girlie
Tumataroa, Winnifred
Taurima, Hine
Wanikau, Thompson
Wanikau, Herera
Wanikau Mangu
Wanikau, Urupene
Wanikau, Bella
Wanikau, Georgina
Wanikau, Tau
Williams, Mervyn
Williams, Joyce
Wainohu, Rauhine
Wainohu, Hemi
Wainohu, Makiroa
Waapu, Herewini
Wainohu, Watene
Moore, Eugene
McIlroy, James
McIlroy, Mary
1957 – 1967
Aranui, Atareta
Aranui, Eileen
Aranui, Lillian
Aranui, Hiriana
Brightwell, Arthur
Bates, Terry
Berghan, Dennis
Berghan, Elizabeth
Berghan, Michael
Boynton, Mary
Boynton, Catherine
Boynton, Nathan
Boynton, Holly
Crombie, John
Crombie, Donald
Chadwick, Tom
Chadwick, Toby
Chadwick, Kahu
Chadwick, Poa
Campbell, Lon
Bryant, Christine
Grant, Ahipene
Hura, Eddie
Hura, George
Hura, Delphinium,
Hurunui, Joe
Hooper, Darrell
Hooper, Reggie
Hooper, Bertrum
Hooper, James
Hooper, Steven
Hooper, Marcel
Hooper, Rani
Hawkins, George
Hawkins, Diana
Hawkins, Josephine
Hawkins, Ku
Hawkins, Mervyn
Hawkins, Etu
Hawkins, Muera
Hawkins, Mere
Hawkins, Patrick
Hawkins, Tureiti
Hamilton, Pauline
Harvey, Amiria
Harvey, Millie
Hurunui, Pikiwai
Heta, Ngarou
Heta, Kahu
Heta, Tommy
Hapeta, John
Hemahema, Milton
Hokianga, Awhi
Joe, Billa
Joe, Margaret
Jones, Rosalie
Jones, Brian
Jones, Stanley
Kopu, Shona
Lambert, Henry
Lambert, Lance
Maynard, Phillip
Mitchell, Joe
Marshall, Denise
McIver, Jean
McIver, Leslie
Nicholson, Bluett
Nehemia, Walker
Nehemia, Isabel
Nehemia, Faenza
Nelson, Robert
Nelson, Rosemary
Nordstrom, Judith
Pua, Hora
Pene, Linda
Pene, Wallace
Pene, Darrell
Pen, Darcy
Rameka, Hinemoa
Rameka, Pauline
Niania, Christine
Ruki, Robert
Robinson, Mavis
Robinson, Jimmy
Robinson, Margaret
Robinson, Mihi
Robinson, Puggy
Robinson, Ngaire
Robinson, Richard
Robinson, Betty-Moko
Robinson, James
Robertson, James
Rickus, Hine
Rawiri, Douglas
Ryan, Erin
Ryan, Paul
Ryan, Marie
Ryan, Joanne
Stevens, Ann
Stevens, Ronnie
Stevens, Georgina
Stevens, Isobel
Stevens, Philip
Smith, Cleo
Smith, Darttell
Smith, Pat
Smith, Olivia
Tuhi, Wi
Tuhi, Sydney
Tuhi, Joseph
Tuhi, Margaret
Tuhi, Lena
Tuhi, Charles
Tuhi, Paul
Tuhi, Debra
Tumataroa, Robert
Tumataroa, Winnie
Tumataroa, Guy
Tumataroa, Wayne
Tumataroa, Dennis
Tumataroa, Kenneth
Tumataroa, Joanne
Tumataroa, Earl
Tumataroa, John
Taurima, Moroati
Taurima, Hine
Taurima, Doris
Taurima, Henry
Tauirima, Rangi
Taurima, Moro
Taurima, Ross
Taurima, Raymond
Page 50
Taurima, Hero
Taurima, Peter
Lambert, Poppy
Te Aho, Barbara
Te Aho, Doris
Te Aho, David
Te Aho, Truby
Te Aho, Noel
Te Aho, Stephanie
Te Aho, Francis
Thoms, Sandra
Taurima, Stanley
Te Kahu, Wi-Victor William
Te Kahu, David
Te Kahu, Judith
Te Kahu, Glen
Tauno, Violet
Taylor, William
Taylor, Gail,
O’Connor, Ashley
O’Connor, Sheryl
Wainohu, Makiroa
Wainohu, Watene
Wainohu, Hemi
Wainohu, Rita
Wainohu, Wetini
Wainohu, Rosalie
Wainohu, Ella
Wainohu, Jewell
Waapu, Herewini
Wanikau, Bella
Wanikau, Georgina
Walker, Martin,
Waimoana, Charlie
Waimoana, Horace
Waimoana, Hapeta
Waimoana, Tui
Kinita, Rosalie
Te Ratana, William
Te Ratana, Rose
1968 – 1978
Aranui, James
Archer, Timothy
Archer, Warwick
Boynton, Holly
Bell, Polly
Brown, Jourdain
Brown, Debra
Brown, Grant
Brown, Clifton
Brown, Nicholas
Bennett, Geoffrey
Bennett, Mark
Bennett, Richard
Bayne, Ronald
Cook, Megan
Cook, Damon
Cook, Hera
Bartlett, Carol
Dew, Wendy
Everitt, Teiana
Everitt, Simon
Foss, Maraea
Foss, Peter
Foss, Steven
Green, Christian
Fleming, Raymond
Heta, Tomas
Hawkins, Tureiti
Hawkins, Mere
Hawkins, Muera
Hawkins, Avon
Hawkins, Julie
Hawkins, Peter
Hawkins, Rayna
Hawkins, Katerina
Hawkins, Bronwyn
Hawkins, Ruth
Hawkins, Roland
Hawkins, Eirrynne
Hawkins, Robina
Hawkins, Sharleen
Hurunui, Pikiwai
Hurunui, Mavis
Hooper, Steven
Hooper, Marcell
Hooper, Rani
Hooper, Bertram
Hooper, James
Hokianga, Sophie
Hokianga, Georgina
Hollamby, Jan
Hollamby, Lisa
Henry, Stephen
Henry, Michelle
Henry, Lisa
Heke, Adrianne
Hapeta, Ngarama
Howell, Angela
Howell, Cherie
Howell, Karen
Joe, Rosanna
Joseph, Tracey
Joseph, Darryn
Joseph, Jody
Joseph, Adam
Joseph, Alice
Kent, Wendy
Kent, Julian
Kent, Pamela
Kent, Vicky
Lightfoot, Vivienne
Divain, Joseph
McGleash, Tina
O’Connor, Ashley
O’Connor, Sheryl
Ryna, Paul
Ryan, Erin
Ryan, Joanne
Ryan, William
Ryan, Maree
Rawiri, Douglas
Henry, Robert
Racz, John
Racz, Eva
Racz, Maria
Racz, Patrick
Rangi, Shane (Pipi)
Perreaux, David
Perreaux, Dianne
Perreaux, Sharon
Stirling, Waimarie
Stirling, Claire
Taurima, Henry
Taurima, Ross
Taurima, Hero
Taurima, Stanley
Taurima, Raymond
Taurima, Darren
Tuhi, Joseph
Tuhi, Charles
Tuhi, Lena
Tuhi, Paul
Tuhi, Hemi
Tuhi, Debra
Tumataroa, Kenneth
Taurima, Rangi
Tumataroa, Joanne
Tumataroa, Earl
Tumataroa, Margory
Tumataroa, Sharyn
Taurima, Masadean
Te Aho, Stephanie
Te Aho, Francis
Manuel, Tangone
Vandeiviel, Martin
Manuel, Grant
Thompson, Michelle
Wesley, Gary
Wesley, Lou
Wesley, Marie
Wesley, Ronald
Wesley, Kaye
Wesley, Emily
Waihape, Tracy
Walden, Shona
Lloyd, Rawiri (1979)
Taurima, Rosslyn (1979)
Thompson, Michelle (180)
Lloyd, George (1980)
Page 61
[Advertisement]
WILLIAMS & KETTLE LTD.
1880 – 1980
100 Years of Service
It is with great pleasure that we congratulate the Mohaka School on their Centenary.
For the past hundred years your service to the local community has been invaluable and we hope that your district may experience the same benefits in the years to come.
From one Centenarian to another –
“Our best wishes for the future.”
WILLIAMS & KETTLE LTD.
“WHERE SERVICE IS YOUR GUARANTEE”
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[List of names in this title still to be added – HBKB]
Subjects
Tags
Business / Organisation
Mohaka SchoolFormat of the original
Book paperbackDate published
1980Accession number
611667Supporters and sponsors
We sincerely thank the following businesses and organisations for their support.
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