About 200 people recently celebrated a century of education in the Maropiu district about 25km north of Dargaville.
The anniversary action took place at the former Maropiu School - now the Kaihu Valley Primary School - and organiser Glenys Bracey said the weather was kind and there were no problems during
the celebrations at Labour Weekend.
Guests came from as far away as Australia and the South Island and the celebrations included a ball at the Kaihu Valley Rugby Club rooms and a church service at which Rev George Patuawa officiated.
Mrs Bracey said guests had written to the centennial committee after the celebrations saying they had enjoyed themselves.
The school - situated on Maropiu/Kairara Rd north east of the Kai Iwi Lakes - was a primary school from around the early 1930s until 1959 when it became an area school with a secondary department and was renamed Maropiu District High School.
It remained a high school until about 1973 when the secondary department closed and students were sent to Dargaville High School or Whangarei secondary schools.
The school's name was changed again in the 1980s to Kaihu Valley Primary School, which still exists as a thriving rural school taking students up to year eight (form 2).
