South Taranaki’s Kakaramea School to celebrate 150th jubilee

Kakaramea School principal Shannon O’Brien and pupils Matilda Skipper (left), Frankie Werder, Oscar Werder and Ardie Reid will be among those celebrating the school's 150 years at Easter. Photo / Fin Ocheduszko Brown

Kakaramea School and District is celebrating its 150th jubilee, with official festivities planned for Easter weekend.

The South Taranaki-based school, near Pātea, opened in 1876 with a student population of 15 and was led by headmaster Richard Temple Brown.

Brown was in sole charge of the school and Manutahi School, often switching schools midday, before Manutahi employed a teacher.

Brown, who had a prosthetic leg, was headmaster and the sole-charge teacher for 12 years and had 55 pupils ranging from age 5 to 15 when he left.

South Taranaki author and historian Jacq Dwyer said having a prosthetic leg never seemed to hold him back.

“He was a tough fella and he hardly had any assistance; he had older pupils helping him but he was running the school,” Dwyer said.

The school was originally on the same premises but closer to the road that is now State Highway 3.

“It was pretty much paid for by the parents because the education board was formed but didn’t have a lot of money for those schools,” Dwyer said.

Kakaramea School was rebuilt in 1928 in its current location.

The school, which currently has 66 pupils, will have “a week of festivities” before jubilee formalities begin on April 3-5. The Easter weekend celebrations will include food and drinks, decade photos, speeches and a service at Pariroa Pā.

Up to 150 past pupils and affiliates are expected to celebrate the occasion.

Dwyer has written a book about the school’s history, which will be available later this year.

Shannon O’Brien, who has been principal since 2018, said it was “incredible” to be able to celebrate the school and district’s extensive history.

“It has been great to step back and get a strong sense of belonging and connection to the place ... being able to walk through history is pretty cool,” she said.

“The kids of today are really excited to learn what life used to be like.

“It will just be a wonderful community gathering that will bring everybody together to acknowledge what they have achieved so far and build some new memories.”

The school in 1928 after it was rebuilt.

Originally from Hāwera, O’Brien said she had “become entrenched in the community” and it was an honour to be principal for the school’s significant milestone.

The school had been able to stand the test of time for several reasons, she said.

The inter-generational families, community strength and ability to adapt were factors.

“We have a really good way of coming together. The Kakaramea Hall has always got [events] on for the community; they never let that fade away, as it has in some other areas,” she said.

“The community prioritises the school. We are the centre of this area and if you lose your school, you lose your community at times.”

Losing some businesses has not impacted the “vibrant feel” of the area, she said.

For the school to survive another 150 years, O’Brien said it would be important to keep evolving in areas such as transport and artificial intelligence and to keep connected as a community.

“It’s about continuing to allow the students to flourish and get out and about because transport can be a huge barrier in rural schools.

“For us, that actually helps us connect and develop; we don’t see it as a challenge or barrier, we see it as an enabler.

“It ensures that our relationships have to be stronger because we need people to be able to do what we do.”

Some pupils travel from Alton, Pātea and Mokoia but most live in the Kakaramea area.

She said the future of farming was also important for the school to continue.

Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.