Boarding School to Commemorate 150 Years

Boarding school to commemorate 150 years

St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ College is well into preparations to celebrate the 150th year since its establishment as a Māori Catholic boarding school at their jubilee celebrations in Napier this week from the of 6–8 October.

The jubilee begins with a pōwhiri at the school at 3pm on Friday and the weekend's events will include an exhibition of archival material and oral histories, a presentation about the school book by historian and author Malcom Mullholand and a banquet dinner.

Jubilee Committee Chairperson Julie Tangaere says they are looking forward to hosting over one thousand past pupils and their whānau over the jubilee weekend. "It's really going to be a great event. St Joseph's has been home to so many girls over the years. It will be great to get together to share memories and acknowledge the school."

St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ College (then named The Providence) was one of the first schools established by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in 1867. The school was originally petitioned by Māori Missioner Reverend E Reignier whose commitment to the education of Māori children was such that he is recorded as riding for days on horse-back to pick up children to be educated at the Catholic school.

In 1995 the ownership of the school was handed over in Trust to iwi Māori with the establishment of a Trust Board. Two Sisters remain living on the school grounds to maintain the connection with the founding Order.

ENDS

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