Kōwhai Intermediate School
History
During the early 20th century, the borough of Mount Albert was one of the fastest growing areas of Auckland. Overcrowding at Edendale School was so great that by 1918, older students at the school were moved to a temporary satellite school in St Alban's Parish Hall.
In 1920, the New Zealand Government purchased a property on Kowhai Street in Kingsland to alleviate these issues. While Kingsland residents expected the government to establish a primary school on the site, the Department of Education decided to experiment with the facility, establishing the first intermediate school in the country. Intermediate schools were established as education specialists during the 1920s had begun to recognise early adolescence as a key time during development, and that this period of life needed special treatment in education.
The school opened on 1 October 1922, under the name Kowhai Junior High School. 670 students arrived on the first day, even though only 600 places were available at the school.
A new administration block and library were constructed for the school in 2004. In 2006, the school opened a Samoan language bilingual unit, Gafoa le Ata.
In 2018, Kōwhai Intermediate banned students' use of social media while being students of the school.
Notable alumni
- Bob Harvey, mayor of Waitakere City
- Laulu Fetauimalemau Mataʻafa, Samoan politician and the first Samoan high commissioner to New Zealand
- Robert Muldoon, Prime Minister of New Zealand
- Nesian Mystik, hip-hop group
- Tigilau Ness, activist and reggae musician
References
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ Dunsford, Deborah (2016). Mt Albert Then and Now: a History of Mt Albert, Morningside, Kingsland, St Lukes, Sandringham and Owairaka. Auckland: Mount Albert Historical Society. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-473-36016-0. OCLC 964695277. Wikidata Q117189974.
- ^ Dunsford, Deborah (2016). Mt Albert Then and Now: a History of Mt Albert, Morningside, Kingsland, St Lukes, Sandringham and Owairaka. Auckland: Mount Albert Historical Society. p. 90-92. ISBN 978-0-473-36016-0. OCLC 964695277. Wikidata Q117189974.
- ^ "Choosing the right road". Stuff. 21 September 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ "A Red-Letter Day in Educational History". Auckland Star. Vol. LIII, no. 233. 2 October 1922. p. 3. Retrieved 17 March 2023 – via Papers Past.
- ^ Waitakere City Council (12 March 2004). "Kowhai celebrates new admin. block and library". Scoop. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ Fletcher, Kelsey (8 June 2012). "Dawn breaks for unit". Stuff. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ Martin, Hannah (8 February 2012). "Auckland school tells parents to ban children using social media at home". Stuff. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
- ^ Dann, Jennifer (22 November 2016). "Twelve Questions with Tigilau Ness". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 March 2023.