A BRIEF HISTORY OF TARARUA COLLEGE
1960
Tararua College opens on 2nd February.
First open day for the public on 2nd April.
First Parents Association meeting on 4th May.
1961
B Block completed Grand piano, mahogany lectern and table purchased for the Hall with a gift of 600 pounds from the Pahiatua DHS Memorial fund.
The silver birches were planted on the main drive
Tararua College officially opened by the Governor General, Viscount Cobham, in the presence of the local MP, the Prime Minister elect Keith Holyoake on 11th October.
College choir’s first broadcast 9 Lessons and Carols service 11.25am on Christmas Day on 2ZA Palmerston North.
1962
Tararua College Educational Trust founded in February. Within a year it has 351 members and has raised over 1120 pounds.
Peter Snell and Murray Halberg visit in April.
Head Boy, Peter Lines, wins the 1962 Upham Scholarship.
1963
17th September NZBC Orchestra performed in the Hall.
Mr. McLean’s magazine editorial, emphasizing the dangers of letting science dominate the curriculum education was the subject of an editorial in the Wellington Evening Post.
1964
Tararua College Rowing Team obtains canoes and oars from Auckland Rowing Club and takes part in Secondary Schools regattas in Wanganui and Wellington.
Work starts on the gym. Parents Association gives 4200 pounds.
1965
North Island Secondary schools rowing regatta on the Tiraumea River: 15 schools take part.
Gymnasium opened by W.H.Brown MP for Palmerston North (although the plaque said Mr A Kinsella who was Minister of Education and was ill) on 12th June. It had cost 13,000 pounds of which the college raised about a third.
Tararua College Choir wins a national competition for recorded music run by the NZ Esperanto Society.
Tim Bell wins Tararua College’s first Scholarship.
1966
There is much discussion about the need for examinations for the junior school.
Work begins on the School Cafeteria.
1967
A site is purchased for a boarding hostel due for completion in 1968 and arrangements made to use a wing of the Pahiatua hospital in the meantime.
The College’s only recorded Debutante Ball in front of Mr and Mrs. Holyoake.
Fifth and Sixth form Australian tour.
1968
Mr M K Denholm becomes Principal of Tararua College. Social Studies department trip to the South Island.
1969
10th Jubilee Reunion at Easter, 4th-6th April.
Visit of Governor General Sir Arthur Porrit in July.
1970
Mr S.W. Gaudin becomes Principal of Tararua College. Uniform abolished for Seventh Form/ Year 13 and for Sixth Form (Year 12) in mid-year.
Hair regulations relaxed.
Year 9 and 10 examinations abolished and replaced by a system of testing.
Gala day raised $4000.
South Island Tour for Senior students. Cost $8 each
1971
Prefects elected and committee system introduced.
Streaming scaled back.
1972
Rock gardens put around the school.
School Canteen completed.
First Mufti week.
1973
Death of Mr W. A. Carthew, MBE JP, first elected chairperson of the Board of Management.
Study groups introduced; prefects abolished and replaced by school council.
Streaming of classes abolished.
1974
Internal Television system first set up in the college.
Form deans first appointed.
1975
Senior Science Block built.
Maori introduced to the curriculum.
Shower and changing facilities added to the Gymnasium.
Electives begin on Wednesday afternoons.
1976
First Guidance Counsellor and Careers Advisers appointed.
Queen Carnival raises over $25,000 for the District Sports Complex.
Trip to New Caledonia.
Miss I. E Checkley dies, leaving her property to the Tararua College Educational Trust.
Ian and Peter Herkes set a World Crawling Record on the track.
1977
Scrap metal collection raised $3000.
1978
Tu Tangata formed.
Tararua College takes part in World Vision for the first time.
1979
South Island Trip.
Swimming pool opened - not the building - on 10th November.
1980
Tu Tangata Rotorua and Murupara Trip.
Canoe Trip to Lake Tarawera and again in 1982.
1981
The Library built.
Irene Hislop wins three gold, one silver and a bronze at
the World Childrens Disabled Games in London.
Visit by Hone Tuwhare.
Swimming Pool roofed in.
1982
Introduction of Liberal Studies.
Ski Trip to Ruapehu and again in 1983.
1983
1984
Porangahau Marae trip.
1985
Tararua College Silver Jubilee at Easter.
Parewahawaha Marae Trip.
1986
Major Sports Tour (rugby, netball and basketball) to
Australia in May.
End of Year: Science Courtyard built.
1987
Site blessed and work begins on building of Whare
Wananga on 11th April.
Tania Hepi comes 1st equal in the Lions National “Youth
Speaks for New Zealand” competition.
Sally Richardson revives a College Singing Group.
1988
Nick Gaudin retires as principal in June and is succeeded
by Eric Smith.
Whare Wananga opened by Governor General,
Sir Paul Reeves on 28th August in the presence of 1000
guests.
College repainted and cafeteria mural painted by Rachel
Donald.
Visit by Sam Hunt.
1989
Introduction of Transition as a subject.
Visit by Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves on 21st
September to unveil a plaque on the Whare Wananga.
Introduction of Tomorrow’s Schools in October 1st: Board
of Governors becomes Board of Trustees.
1990
Redevelopment of the bottom of A and B Block
Path from Tama Tu Tama Ora put in.
1991
Construction of new changing rooms linking the Gym and
the Pool.
Introduction of the voucher system.
Introduction of Horticulture.
Opening of the Gymnasium refurbishment by Lois Muir
in September.
Duncan Elliott represents NZ in the National Skeet
Shooting Team.
Brendon Tootell is National Supercross Champion.
1992
Opening of the Nick Gaudin Music Suite.
1993
School leaving age raised to 16.
Tararua College repainted.
College visit to New Caledonia.
1994
Cafeteria and Staff Area destroyed by fire on 12th May.
First visit of Seito High School from Japan.
1995
Opening of the new staff room, staff workroom and
Canteen in Term 2.
Drama group wins second place in National Shakespeare
competition.
Peer Support introduced.
Introduction of teaching by computer linkup with other
schools.
Reece Robinson captains the NZ Secondary Schools
rugby team.
1996
Introduction of Computer Technology and Rural
Studies/Horticulture as subjects.
1997
Unit Standards introduced.
National Certificate of Employment Skills introduced.
Phil McCreery becomes principal of Tararua College (July).
1998
Death of Sue Rowden, Chairperson of the Board.
Sue Rowden Support Centre opened.
Music tour of South Island.
Tu Tangata class support programme begins.
Introduction of extension classes.
1999
Introduction of new senior uniform.
Refurbishment of Administration Block.
Kelly Beech Agriculture Unit set up.
Automotive classrooms built.
Educational Trust scholarships begin.
2000
Jones Motors presents school car.
2001
Tararua Roading presents school van.
Whare Storage Room built.
2002
Completion and Opening of the Technology Suite: March.
Completion of the Kelly Beech Rural Education unit.
Primary Technology begins at Tararua College.
National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA)
begins.
Refurbishment of the Science Block.
2003
Opening of the Technology Suite.
Opening of the Whare Kai.
Refurbishment of the Science Block.
2004
Opening of Drama Suite.
2005
Introduction of Gateway Programme.
Term Two: Phil McCreery becomes Principal of Cambridge
High School.
Term Four: Glynis De Castro becomes Principal.
2006 - 2009
Performing Arts trip to Vanuatu.
Music department trip to Queensland.
Rugby Trip to Australia
Tararua College, Churchill St, PO Box 94, Pahiatua, 4941.
Phone 06 3768344, email: admin@tararuacollege.school.nz
Content © to Tararua College
Site last updated July 1, 2012