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| Entrance to Opoutere Youth Hostel near Wharekawa Harbour - photo by Chris Ball April 2017 |
Today one of two
native schools established in 1908 sits in the grounds of the Opoutere Youth
Hostel. The years have seen this area
evolve and many visitors come from all over the world to this special place -
enjoying the peaceful
surroundings.
Back in 1908 at this
small settlement on the Eastern Seaboard Coromandel Peninsula, Wharekawa native
school, was opened- called such because it was near the Wharekawa Harbour.
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| Looking from the shore out on Wharekawa Harbour - photo by Chris Ball 2009 |
This
school came about as the result of a request from the local Maori community and
opened with 31 pupils. Several years later after opening the Wharekawa native
school had a name change to Opoutere native school. Adjacent to the Native school building was a school house where the headmaster and his wife lived.
1912 Mrs C Grindley was recorded appointed assistant teacher at Opoutere Native School. ( AJHR 1912) 1915 Rev. George Grindley was recorded headmaster and Mrs C Grindley assistant teacher. From the AJHRs and Papers Past can be seen that the Grindley's were teachers at Opoutere Native School until about 1924, Reverend George Grindley was a member of the Native School Teachers' Association, rising to the position of Vice President of this organisation.
1912 Mrs C Grindley was recorded appointed assistant teacher at Opoutere Native School. ( AJHR 1912) 1915 Rev. George Grindley was recorded headmaster and Mrs C Grindley assistant teacher. From the AJHRs and Papers Past can be seen that the Grindley's were teachers at Opoutere Native School until about 1924, Reverend George Grindley was a member of the Native School Teachers' Association, rising to the position of Vice President of this organisation.
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Wharekawa Native School with School House - name changed
later to Opoutere Native School in Appendix to the Journals of the House of
Representatives, 1909 Session II, E-03EDUCATION: NATIVE SCHOOLS. [In
continuation of E.-2, 1908.] |
In 1924 Grindley was recorded as being at Te Hapua Native School in the "far North."
Ball in AJHR of 1930: " Methods of Teaching. Inspector D. G. Ball, who comes to the Native School Service direct from the work of organizing teacher in public schools, offers the following remarks on the methods of teaching in Native schools The methods of teaching employed in the lower division of the majority of the schools are intelligent and well applied. Here it is that the teachers are fully cognizant of the importance of oral teaching and practical application. A greater variety of teaching devices and the utilization of more home-made material, pictures, and games would result not only in increased interest and a brighter class-room atmosphere, but also in raising materially the standard of work. In many cases the methods employed in the standard classes are of a much less satisfactory nature. "
It
is said that Douglas Ball on travel to the
two native schools of the Eastern Seaboard, caught a train to Waihi and then it was
horseback from there to Mataora and on
to Wharekawa and Opoutere native school. Horseback to the remote rural areas
was the preferred transport and Ball, it was said, sometimes mistaken for a drover rather than a
school inspector.
It was during Ball's tenure as Senior Inspector that William Statham was to retire. Statham's impending retirement was reported in the Bay of Plenty Times in 1933 indicating a move to Otumoetai near Tauranga. During WWII Statham was recorded Captain, Home Guard No 3 Battalion and an easter camp was reported:
In 1935 two pupils of Opoutere Native School hit headlines when a special and rare mussel dredge was found near the school. P Hutchinson and K McGregor are said to have presented their find to the Auckland Museum.
From 1924 William H Statham was recorded as
headmaster of Opoutere Native School with his wife Francis being assistant
teacher. The Native School Teachers' Association of 1928
saw William H Statham appointed to the executive committee.
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| First Opoutere Native School building as it is in April 2017 - photo Chris Ball |
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| First Opoutere Native School building indoors used as a Hostel Bunkhouse in April 2017 - photo Chris Ball
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In AJHR 1930, it was
noted that Opoutere amongst a number of
other native schools "school-grounds are
the pride and inspiration of the settlement" This would have been the community' s
families contributing to upkeep of the grounds also. By then Douglas G
Ball had been appointed Inspector of Maori Schools in 1929.
Ball became Senior Inspector of Maori Schools eight years later, 1950 appointed Assistant Director of
Education, and 1961 to 1971 Chairman of
the Maori Education Foundation.
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| First Opoutere Native School building in April 2017 - photo Chris Ball |
Ball in AJHR of 1930: " Methods of Teaching. Inspector D. G. Ball, who comes to the Native School Service direct from the work of organizing teacher in public schools, offers the following remarks on the methods of teaching in Native schools The methods of teaching employed in the lower division of the majority of the schools are intelligent and well applied. Here it is that the teachers are fully cognizant of the importance of oral teaching and practical application. A greater variety of teaching devices and the utilization of more home-made material, pictures, and games would result not only in increased interest and a brighter class-room atmosphere, but also in raising materially the standard of work. In many cases the methods employed in the standard classes are of a much less satisfactory nature. "
It was during Ball's tenure as Senior Inspector that William Statham was to retire. Statham's impending retirement was reported in the Bay of Plenty Times in 1933 indicating a move to Otumoetai near Tauranga. During WWII Statham was recorded Captain, Home Guard No 3 Battalion and an easter camp was reported:
" The Waihi No.
3 Battalion of the Home Guard, including Katikati and Waikino units, went into
camp for four days during Easter. Major W. H. Stainton, M.C.. battalion
commander, was in charge of the camp, the arrangements for which were
efficiently carried out by Captain I. T. Fallwell and Lieutenant E. H.
McCarthny. The men thoroughly appreciated the course of intense training, which
included night manoeuvres. Sunday was open day for visitors. The Whangamata and
Opoutere sections of No. 3 Battalion were also in camp during Easter, Captain
Statham being in command." ( Auckland Star 29 April 1942)
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| Group
of Pupils Wharekawa Native School In Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1909 Session II, E-03 EDUCATION : NATIVE SCHOOLS. [In continuation of E.-2, 1908.] courtesy National Library NZ |
Many
of the families of the pupils worked in the area farming, gum digging, in the nearby "
Luck at Last " goldmine,
and for logging contractors such as Leyland and O'Brien, working the
kauri for the NZ Kauri Timber Company.
In 1908, when the Opoutere Native school opened , there was a thriving small community, with a store and bakery, which supplied the miners and forestry workers. Later years, with the closure of gold mines in the area, it was farming and forestry, with the New Zealand Forest Service and radiata pine forests and nursery.
Family names amongst those early pupils of 1908 were McGregor, Durrant, Savage and Hutchison. In 1910 two years after the opening of the Opoutere Native school, the NZ Towns Directory , Opoutere , recorded along with those families, the names of Edward Withers and Victor Gordon, miners, John Antoney, storekeeper and Anthony Edwardson, seaman. It was said that Opoutere Native School had some volunteer help from the " Luck at Last " miners in the establishment of the school and school house in 1908.
In 1908, when the Opoutere Native school opened , there was a thriving small community, with a store and bakery, which supplied the miners and forestry workers. Later years, with the closure of gold mines in the area, it was farming and forestry, with the New Zealand Forest Service and radiata pine forests and nursery.
Family names amongst those early pupils of 1908 were McGregor, Durrant, Savage and Hutchison. In 1910 two years after the opening of the Opoutere Native school, the NZ Towns Directory , Opoutere , recorded along with those families, the names of Edward Withers and Victor Gordon, miners, John Antoney, storekeeper and Anthony Edwardson, seaman. It was said that Opoutere Native School had some volunteer help from the " Luck at Last " miners in the establishment of the school and school house in 1908.
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| Maori
Gum-diggers in Bell, James MacIntosh. 1914. The Wilds of Maoriland. London:
MacMillan.
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Panoramic view of
the Whangamata Gold Corporation's new stamper battery and associated works at
Wharekawa 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries,
AWNS-18990630-5-2
" Luck at Last"
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| Rafting Logs from main booms to store, Wharekawa, Auckland Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1905 Session I, C-06 THE TIMBER INDUSTRY OF NEW ZEALAND (EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS BY COMMISSIONERS OF CROWN LANDS ON, TOGETHER WITH TABLES, VIEWS, AND MAPS). [Prepared by direction of the Honourable the Minister of Lands.] courtesy National Library NZ |
In 1935 two pupils of Opoutere Native School hit headlines when a special and rare mussel dredge was found near the school. P Hutchinson and K McGregor are said to have presented their find to the Auckland Museum.
About 1953 Opoutere
Native School moved to near what was then known as Paritu further up the
Wharekawa Valley and now called Opoutere School in 2017 and near the Tawatawa
Hall - both on State Highway 25. The Auckland Tramping Club ( amongst them club
members Sykes, Jones, Pascoe, Stewart,
Latter ) are said to have had a working bee at the old Opoutere native school ,
readying it for what was to become a Youth Hostel accommodation.
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| Youth Hostel Opoutere |
Over the years from
1953 to 2017, the Youth Hostel became a popular place for overseas
tourists, tramping groups, school groups, and cub and scout groups.
In the 1990's DOC established a dotterel project with a paid ranger over the summer months. Helen Stewart ( known as " the bird lady " ) a DOC wildlife ranger and others assisted the paid ranger with the project. In 2002 Karen Griffin , Opoutere YHA manager on retiring after 25 years, noted that the Dotterel colony drew overseas visitors with the DOC Ranger running education programmes on the Dotterel Colony.
Today in 2017 this colony continues to draw visitors to the spit to view the dotterels. Apart from tourism, the many other groups found this area a good base, including the cub and scout groups who had fun canoeing, kayaking, and as many groups exploring nearby Maungaruawahine.
In the 1990's DOC established a dotterel project with a paid ranger over the summer months. Helen Stewart ( known as " the bird lady " ) a DOC wildlife ranger and others assisted the paid ranger with the project. In 2002 Karen Griffin , Opoutere YHA manager on retiring after 25 years, noted that the Dotterel colony drew overseas visitors with the DOC Ranger running education programmes on the Dotterel Colony.
Today in 2017 this colony continues to draw visitors to the spit to view the dotterels. Apart from tourism, the many other groups found this area a good base, including the cub and scout groups who had fun canoeing, kayaking, and as many groups exploring nearby Maungaruawahine.
Yes this place, where
the Opoutere Youth Hostel has much heritage and many stories held by many
people of its past. It's sense of place is woven into the fabric and a part of
the past NZ History on the Eastern Seaboard Coromandel Peninsula and our own
families history.
Today in April 2017 there has been talk of the Opoutere Youth Hostel closing and a petition circulating - hence why this blog for the history of this place has been written.
Today in April 2017 there has been talk of the Opoutere Youth Hostel closing and a petition circulating - hence why this blog for the history of this place has been written.
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| Entrance to track to Dotterel Colony on spit at Opoutere April 2017 - photo Chris Ball |
Footnote:
Great news for this "native school " 110 years after opening. Our local newspaper on 7 January 2021 carried an article on the new use for this hostel and school - administered by Opoutere and Whangamata Schools who have formed a trust to administer the area and programme. NZME Community News January 07 2021 .
Reference Sources:
- Bay of Plenty Times 10 May 1933 Page 2
- Auckland Star 8 April 1935 Page 8
- Auckland Star 29 April 1942 Page 5 WAIHI HOME GUARD
- Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1912 Session II, H-05 APPOINTMENTS UNDER THE CIVIL SERVICE AMENDMENT ACT, 1908 (RETURN OF).
- Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1915 Session I, E-03 EDUCATION: NATIVE SCHOOLS. [In continuation of E.-3, 1914.]
- Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1924 Session I, E-03 EDUCATION OF NATIVE CHILDREN. [In continuation of E.-3, 1923.]
- Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1930 Session I, E-03 EDUCATION OF NATIVE CHILDREN. (In continuation of E.-3, 1929.)
- John Barrington. 'Ball, Douglas George', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/biographies/4b3/ball-douglas-george (accessed 18 April 2017)
- The falafels may be going but the yoghurt lives on http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0210/S00014.htm accessed 18/04/2017
