Kaikōura High School is a state co-educational secondary school in Kaikōura, New Zealand.[2] The first secondary school in Kaikōura was a district high school, which opened in 1903. The district high school was dis-established and Kaikōura High School opened in February 1971.[3]

Kaikōura High School
Address
Map
1 Rorrisons Road

Kaikōura
,
7300

New Zealand
Coordinates42°24′00″S 173°40′28″E / 42.3999°S 173.6744°E / -42.3999; 173.6744
Information
TypeState co-ed secondary (Year 7–13)
MottoMāori: Tama Tū Tama Ora
(He who stands lives)
Established1971; 53 years ago (1971)
Ministry of Education Institution no.307
PrincipalJoanna Fissendel
School roll199[1] (August 2024)
Websitewww.kaikourahigh.school.nz

History

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District High School (1903–1971)

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The first secondary school in Kaikōura was established in a single room building known as Ludstone School, located close to the site of the present high school. The school was designated as a district high school in 1903, but in 1905 the building was destroyed by fire. A replacement secondary school re-opened in May 1908. There was pressure from the community in 1926 and 1927 for the Minister of Education to provide more accommodation for secondary schooling.[4] A grant for a new room for secondary classes was approved in May 1928.[5] In 1950, there were 79 pupils on the roll of the secondary school, with 293 attending the primary school.[6] A new school block for the secondary department was opened in 1955, providing two new classrooms, a headmasters office and a staff room.[7][8]

The eighty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the school, and the fifty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the secondary department were celebrated at a reunion in August 1958.[9]

The Minister of Education approved the establishment of a form 1 to form 6 high school at Kaikoura with effect from 1 February 1971.[10]

Kaikōura High School (from 1971)

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In May 1977, the Minister of Education announced that plans for a new Kaikōura High School were ready to go to tender. Secondary students moved into new buildings in 1979, leaving the existing site for primary students.[11][12]

In 2000, the school received additional funding of $60,000 to establish a junior sports academy as an innovative approach to target students at risk.[13]

The Education Review Office issued critical reports about the school over the period 1999 to 2004, raising concerns about teaching approaches, lower-than-average results in science and English, and failure to meet the needs of Māori students. In September 2004, the school's board of trustees was dissolved by the Minister of Education, and a commissioner was appointed to run the school.[14][15][16] A new principal was appointed in July 2006, as part of the process of returning the school to self-management.[17]

In 2007, Māori students were 35% of the school's roll. The school introduced compulsory lessons in te reo for all its year 7 and 8 students in 2008[18]

Two major renovations of school buildings were completed in 2015, including the upgrade of the school's whare and library.[19]

A limited statutory manager with employment and financial powers was appointed to the school in July 2015.[20] A new principal was appointed in late 2015.[21]

The school was closed following the Kaikōura earthquake on 14 November 2016 but was cleared of damage and re-opened 30 November 2016.[22][23] Works undertaken following the earthquake included seismic strengthening of the school gymnasium.[24]

Flooding risk

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In 2021, modelling of coastal flooding risks to schools across New Zealand showed that Kaikōura High School was vulnerable to flooding with a sea-level rise of between 51 and 100 cm.[25]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Ministry of Education – Education Counts". Education Counts. Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  3. ^ "History of Kaikōura High School". Kaikōura High School. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Connection and resilience in close-knit Kaikōura community". Education Gazette. 100 (9). 21 July 2021. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Kaikoura High School". Kaikoura Star. 3 May 1928. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023 – via Papers Past.
  6. ^ "District High School". Kaikoura Star. 6 July 1950. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023 – via Papers Past.
  7. ^ "New school building at Kaikoura". Press. 28 September 1954. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023 – via Papers Past.
  8. ^ "Kaikoura District High School - New building block opened". Press. 12 April 1955. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023 – via Papers Past.
  9. ^ "Kaikoura High School". Press. 22 August 1958. p. 8. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023 – via Papers Past.
  10. ^ "Kaikoura H.S. - request to Minister". Press. 23 March 1970. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023 – via Papers Past.
  11. ^ "New H.S. for Kaikoura". Press. 21 May 1977. p. 3. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023 – via Papers Past.
  12. ^ "School buildings to be improved". Press. 21 November 1979. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023 – via Papers Past.
  13. ^ Ross, Tara (16 June 2000). "Schools' innovation lands funding". The Press. ProQuest 314337546.
  14. ^ Bristow, Robyn (10 September 2004). "Minister dissolves Kaikoura school board". The Press. ProQuest 314622344.
  15. ^ Bristow, Robyn (11 September 2004). "Tumultuous times still not over for Kaikoura school". The Press. ProQuest 314637068.
  16. ^ Bristow, Robyn (19 October 2004). "School's problems 'fixable'". The Press. ProQuest 314657970.
  17. ^ Bristow, Robyn (25 July 2006). "Teacher returns to Kaikoura as principal". The Press. ProQuest 314819681.
  18. ^ "Te Reo to be compulsory at Kaikoura High School". The Press. 25 August 2007. ProQuest 314819547.
  19. ^ "Building projects complete". The Marlborough Express. 3 June 2015. ProQuest 1685376575.
  20. ^ McPhee, Elena (4 March 2016). "Kaikoura school still under statutory management". The Marlborough Express. ProQuest 1771907533.
  21. ^ Dangerfield, Emma (18 November 2015). "New principal keen to strengthen community ties". Stuff. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  22. ^ "Kaikoura schools may open Monday". NZ Newswire. 17 November 2016. ProQuest 1840604966.
  23. ^ "Kaikoura schools to open". The Press. 30 November 2016. ProQuest 1844371863.
  24. ^ "Lessons in resilience". The Marlborough Express. 16 November 2018. ProQuest 2133455898.
  25. ^ Wannan, Olivia (19 February 2021). "Rising tides put up to 94 schools at risk of flooding and closures". Stuff. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  26. ^ "Infantry". Royal Victoria Regiment Association. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  27. ^ Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years: A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. p. 326. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
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