History – Building Maungaturoto School

When the first European settlers arrived in Maungaturoto in 1863, there were no schools. Living conditions were primitive and settler families lived in tents and rough shelters while they cleared land for farming or established themselves in business.

William Mousley Flower was one of these new residents and he was also a parent. He began giving lessons to both his own and neighbouring children, and in the evenings he also held classes for adults.

In 1868, the community arranged with Josiah Martin to run a weekday school for children. When he left in 1869, their informal school committee began agitating for more government assistance. However, as there were not the required number of school-aged children in the district, they could not make a strong enough case to the Education Department for a school building. In addition, their application to merge with Paparoa School was declined.

It was not until three years later, in 1872, when John Hurndall became secretary of the school committee that they began to make some headway. The committee asked the government for a “grant-in-aid” of £80 and this was approved. They purchased two acres for a school site on Gorge Road and cleared the land.

The building was to be 20 feet by 30 feet (6.1m by 9.1m). Tenders were called for its construction and Joseph Mason, of Maungaturoto, won with a price of “£80 without shingles”. Mason was required to complete the structure within three months. A penalty of five cents per week was to be charged if the deadline was not met.

Unfortunately, at this stage, the Education Department threw a spanner in the works – they declined to advance any funds.

The ever-adaptive school committee secured the use of a local church for 12 months, where they held classes. They also asked the board to appoint a teacher without delay. William Flower was selected for the role at a public meeting and recommended to the board for confirmation. The Education Department approved Flower’s appointment and he became Maungaturoto’s first official schoolteacher. He was paid £5 per month.

Flower then spent three months at Paparoa School, training under T.W. Wilson. Mason also went to Paparoa to view the school’s furniture. He was asked to build a library table, four desks and four forms, two blackboards, and to have them ready for the school’s opening on Monday, October 6, 1873.

The sustained efforts by this early Maungaturoto community laid the foundations for a school, which is still operating today. On Saturday, October 19, the Maungaturoto School will celebrate its 150th Jubilee. In support of this event, the Kauri Museum is hosting a grassroots exhibition to present some experiences of past students and staff, alongside projects by current students.