It was a family reunion of sorts when past pupils and staff gathered to celebrate Pakipaki school's centenary at the weekend.
More than 200 people from New Zealand and Australia attended the festivities, which included a powhiri, jubilee ball, banquet and the burying of a time capsule.
Centenary committee member Queenie Cooke
said the school community was so tight, it was akin to a family reunion: "I enjoyed watching people as they came in to register and guessing who they were."
The school opened in 1907 when, concerned for the safety of children taking the train to school in Opapa, Urupene Puhara gifted the Government three acres of land - for a school, a church, and Houngarea marae.
Mrs Cooke said there was a strong sense of belonging at the school, which became bilingual in 1982.
"The beauty of it all was knowing the school came through and lasted all these years and that there's a great future ahead for the children."
