Final farewell to Ngamatea School after roll drops to zero

Ngamatea School closed this week after 102 years. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A school roll of zero has seen the end of Ngamatea School, after more than 100 years.

The tiny Waimarino School, located south of Ohakune on Whangaehu Valley Rd, had a roll of just three pupils in 2016. Those pupils left at the end of the year, and no new pupils enrolled for 2017.

"If you don't have students, you don't have a school," said former Board of Trustees treasurer Noelene Donald.

"We were quite worried last year about the future of the school."

Ms Donald said Ngamatea locals were devastated by the closure.

"The school has been the focal point for the community for years.

"We're in a generation gap where there are no new kids coming through. So it means that any kids from Ngamatea in the future will have to go to Ohakune for their schooling," Ms Donald said.

Tasha Carley, principal release at Ngamatea School, said the loss of the school, after 102 years, was a terrible blow to the community. She said the closure was a result of better roads and people being more willing to travel.

Ms Carley said the school had a proud history.

"We've had some great pupils including our own All Black, Andrew Donald."

Sisters Pip Baxendine and Tanya Canning, who spent their early years in Karioi, went to Ngamatea School in the mid 1990s.

Mrs Canning said it was an "awesome" school.

"It had a real family feeling to it, we had lots of pet days. There was a principal and a teacher aide, so we had lots of one-on-one teacher time.

"Every played with everyone else. It was just a really nice country school," Mrs Canning said.

Mrs Baxendine said the school had been threatened with closure before - including when they were at the school and the roll had got down to six pupils.

"The community always managed to rally around and save it. I think it's sad the school has closed, but to be honest I'm surprised it stayed open that long."

A farewell to the school will be held at the school on Anzac Day, beginning at 2pm. All those who have had connections to the school are welcome. Please RSVP Noelene Donald by April 19, phone 06 342 8571.