Nukutere College
Encyclopedia
Nukutere College is a Catholic secondary school located in Avarua
, Rarotonga
, Cook Islands
. It is the country’s only Catholic secondary school and has an important educational role across the archipelago of islands. "Nukutere" means "people on a journey", a reference to the pilgrim Church in the South Pacific context.
, Bishop of Rarotonga
. It was first staffed by Father Peter Salamonsen SM and Sister Berenice Stevens RSM. The Christian Brothers
provided staff for the school from the beginning of the 1976 school year until the end of 2009. Brother Terry McErlane became the second headmaster and Brothers Simon Coughlan and Joseph McRae were the other members of that first Christian Brothers community. For some years Sister Elizabeth Browne-Russell (SJC), a sister of St Joseph of Cluny
, served as deputy principal.
From its beginnings, the school's financial position was somewhat parlous especially after it became necessary to employ lay teachers from the 1980s. In 2000 the Cook Islands' Government began to pay 75% of teachers' salaries and running costs in all private and church schools. Also, at that time the principal of the school, Brother Norman Gillies established a charitable trust to ensure a regular supplementary income for necessary future maintenance and development at the school. The Silver Jubilee of the College and the presence of the Christian Brothers was marked in 2000 and in 2005, the school had a roll of 190.
On 20 February 2006 part of the school was tragically destroyed by fire. Later that year the block was rebuilt with funds supplied by the New Zealand Government through the Cook Islands Investment Commission (CIIC). The new block was designed by respected Auckland architecture firm, Architectus.
served at Nukutere college (1975–2009). Amongst them were: Br Simon Germaine Coughlan, Br Andrew Dawani, Br Anthony Eugenio Gherardi, Br Norman Campion Gillies, Br Paul Kikisi, Br Terence Vitus McErlane, Br Joseph De Porres McRae, Br John Didicus O'Neill, Br Francis William Perkins, Br John Paschal Prendergast, Br Ignacy John Rubisz, Br Michael Benignus Scanlan, Br Benjamin Everard Ryan and Br Lawrence Hubert Wilkes. The Christian Brothers Congregation in New Zealand supported the college and Brothers’ community financially so that the new school could develop more easily and several Brothers did extra work outside the school to assist the local community. For example, Brother Tony Gheradi is remembered for promoting the sport of volleyball
on Rarotonga and Brother John O’Neill spent several years as the Catholic prison chaplain. Two of the brothers, Brother Anthony Gherardi (in 1998 aged 60) and Brother Ignacy Rubisz (on Sunday, 23 October 2005, aged 56), died while they were stationed at the college and are buried in the Old Cathedral Cemetery, Avarua
, adjacent to the grounds of Nukutere College.
- not far distant) to stay with 'guardians'. As at 2010, Nukutere College and all other private and church schools in the Cook Islands receive 100% of the equivalent allocation of funds that they would as a government school from the national budget. All government, private and church schools are required to be open to both educational and financial audit. The college generally has a roll of 170-200 pupils and a staff of 13. There is a Government-funded Special Needs
unit (opened in 2003) at the college, the only such unit in Rarotonga. In May 2011 a college shrine in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (containing the icon that was in the former chapel of the Christian Brothers) and a plaque honouring all the Brothers who taught at Nukutere College were unveiled on the wall of the new school building, overlooking the college playing field. The refurnished, restocked and computerized school library, named the Edmund Rice Library
, was reopened in July 2011.
Avarua
Avarua is a town and district in the north of Rarotonga Island, the national capital of the Cook Islands...
, Rarotonga
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Suva. It was erected as the Prefecture Apostolic of Cook e Mnihiki in 1922, elevated to the Vicariate Apostolic of Cook Islands in 1948 and elevated as the Diocese of Rarotonga...
, Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
. It is the country’s only Catholic secondary school and has an important educational role across the archipelago of islands. "Nukutere" means "people on a journey", a reference to the pilgrim Church in the South Pacific context.
History
The college was opened in 1975 by Bishop John Rodgers SMJohn Rodgers (New Zealand bishop)
John Hubert Macey Rodgers, SM was a Missionary bishop. He was Vicar Apostolic of Tonga and Niue Bishop of Tonga then Bishop of Rarotonga , Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland , Superior of the Mission, Funafuti, Tuvalu .Rodgers was born in Upper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand on 9 October 1915...
, Bishop of Rarotonga
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Suva. It was erected as the Prefecture Apostolic of Cook e Mnihiki in 1922, elevated to the Vicariate Apostolic of Cook Islands in 1948 and elevated as the Diocese of Rarotonga...
. It was first staffed by Father Peter Salamonsen SM and Sister Berenice Stevens RSM. The Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers in New Zealand
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
provided staff for the school from the beginning of the 1976 school year until the end of 2009. Brother Terry McErlane became the second headmaster and Brothers Simon Coughlan and Joseph McRae were the other members of that first Christian Brothers community. For some years Sister Elizabeth Browne-Russell (SJC), a sister of St Joseph of Cluny
Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in 1807. Located around the world, its members perform a variety of charitable works, but they devote themselves especially to missionary work and providing education for the poor....
, served as deputy principal.
From its beginnings, the school's financial position was somewhat parlous especially after it became necessary to employ lay teachers from the 1980s. In 2000 the Cook Islands' Government began to pay 75% of teachers' salaries and running costs in all private and church schools. Also, at that time the principal of the school, Brother Norman Gillies established a charitable trust to ensure a regular supplementary income for necessary future maintenance and development at the school. The Silver Jubilee of the College and the presence of the Christian Brothers was marked in 2000 and in 2005, the school had a roll of 190.
On 20 February 2006 part of the school was tragically destroyed by fire. Later that year the block was rebuilt with funds supplied by the New Zealand Government through the Cook Islands Investment Commission (CIIC). The new block was designed by respected Auckland architecture firm, Architectus.
Christian Brothers
The Christian Brothers ceased to be on the staff of the college at the end of 2009. More than 20 Christian BrothersCongregation of Christian Brothers in New Zealand
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
served at Nukutere college (1975–2009). Amongst them were: Br Simon Germaine Coughlan, Br Andrew Dawani, Br Anthony Eugenio Gherardi, Br Norman Campion Gillies, Br Paul Kikisi, Br Terence Vitus McErlane, Br Joseph De Porres McRae, Br John Didicus O'Neill, Br Francis William Perkins, Br John Paschal Prendergast, Br Ignacy John Rubisz, Br Michael Benignus Scanlan, Br Benjamin Everard Ryan and Br Lawrence Hubert Wilkes. The Christian Brothers Congregation in New Zealand supported the college and Brothers’ community financially so that the new school could develop more easily and several Brothers did extra work outside the school to assist the local community. For example, Brother Tony Gheradi is remembered for promoting the sport of volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
on Rarotonga and Brother John O’Neill spent several years as the Catholic prison chaplain. Two of the brothers, Brother Anthony Gherardi (in 1998 aged 60) and Brother Ignacy Rubisz (on Sunday, 23 October 2005, aged 56), died while they were stationed at the college and are buried in the Old Cathedral Cemetery, Avarua
Avarua
Avarua is a town and district in the north of Rarotonga Island, the national capital of the Cook Islands...
, adjacent to the grounds of Nukutere College.
Nukutere College today
Students come mainly from Rarotonga, but provision is made for those from outer islands (and even from French PolynesiaFrench Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
- not far distant) to stay with 'guardians'. As at 2010, Nukutere College and all other private and church schools in the Cook Islands receive 100% of the equivalent allocation of funds that they would as a government school from the national budget. All government, private and church schools are required to be open to both educational and financial audit. The college generally has a roll of 170-200 pupils and a staff of 13. There is a Government-funded Special Needs
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
unit (opened in 2003) at the college, the only such unit in Rarotonga. In May 2011 a college shrine in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (containing the icon that was in the former chapel of the Christian Brothers) and a plaque honouring all the Brothers who taught at Nukutere College were unveiled on the wall of the new school building, overlooking the college playing field. The refurnished, restocked and computerized school library, named the Edmund Rice Library
Edmund Ignatius Rice
Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice , was a Roman Catholic missionary and educationalist. Edmund was the founder of two orders of religious brothers: the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers....
, was reopened in July 2011.
Principals
- Father Peter Salamonsen S.M. (1975)
- Brother Terry McErlane (cfc)Congregation of Christian Brothers in New ZealandThe Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
(1976–1981) - Br Benjamin Everard Ryan (cfc)Congregation of Christian Brothers in New ZealandThe Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
(1982–1988). - Father Paul FarmerNotable Alumni of St Peter's College, AucklandThe following is a list of some of the alumni of St Peter's College, Auckland.These notes are based on information available in the publicly available sources in the notes and list of reference sources. Every effort has been made to ensure that the entries are accurate...
(1988 - ?) - Mrs Henrica Wilson (? - 1998)
- Br Norman Campion Gillies (cfc)Congregation of Christian Brothers in New ZealandThe Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
(1998–2000) - Br Francis William Perkins (cfc)Congregation of Christian Brothers in New ZealandThe Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational...
(2001–2005) - Mrs Donna Nahu (2006–present).
Notable alumni
- Winton PickeringWinton PickeringWinton Brian Pickering is a Cook Islands politician and member of the Cook Islands Parliament, representing the seat of Oneroa. He is a member of the Cook Islands Democratic Party....
(born 8 December 1962), Member of ParliamentParliament of the Cook IslandsThe Parliament of the Cook Islands is the legislature of the Cook Islands. Originally established under New Zealand colonial rule, it became the national legislature on independence in 1965....
(2004 - present).