Wanganui Collegiate School
Encyclopedia
Wanganui Collegiate School is an independent, coeducational, day and boarding secondary school in Wanganui
, New Zealand
. The school is affiliated to the Anglican church.
, Sir George Grey
, to the Bishop of New Zealand, George Augustus Selwyn
, for the purpose of establishing a school. It was originally a boys-only school but in 1991 began admitting girls at senior levels and went fully co-educational in 1999. The school celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2004.
The school amalgamated with St George’s School in 2010. The combined schools provide primary education for day students on the St George campus, and secondary education for day and boarding students on the Collegiate campus.
Collegiate is an International Member of The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference(HMC) which represents heads of the leading independent schools in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland and international schools mainly from the Commonwealth. Wanganui Collegiate is one of only three member schools in New Zealand.
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
, spent two terms in 1982 at the school as a junior master during his gap year
.
plays a significant role in student life. Each house (of which there are 6 in total; four for boys and two for girls) accommodates approximately 80 students, and each has its own Housemaster, Assistant Housemaster and Matron.
The school grounds are also host to numerous sporting facilities, including the Izard Gymnasium, High Performance Cricket Centre, a full-sized Cross Country Course and many team sports fields. The nearby Whanganui River
is used by students for rowing
training and competitions; Rowing being one of the sports in which Collegiate has traditionally excelled, having won the Maadi Cup
17 times, a national record. The School also hosts the nationally popular Wanganui Cricket Festival each year which sees over 1000 cricketers display their skills throughout the month of January.
Since 1925, the school's 'First XV' rugby team has played Christ's College
, Wellington College
and Nelson College
in an annual quadrangular rugby tournament.
, and hills, scrub, fern
‘toe-toe’, and flax
.
It was originally intended as a training school and educational establishment for the poor and indigent natives and half castes of both races in New Zealand and the islands adjacent thereto, but at the very beginning the school was beset by various problems. Not least were the problems of the local community as it found its feet in the new land. The Pākehā
and Māori relationship was no worse in Wanganui
than elsewhere in the north island
, but the cultural differences did affect the early school and the later Māori Land wars certainly curtailed potential growth in the boarding.
There were also sharp differences of opinion amongst the local leading personalities, not only concerning the land development on which the school was sited, but concerning the function of the school itself. There is little doubt that Richard Taylor
and Governor Sir George Grey envisaged that the school’s primary function was to be a Native School for Christianizing the Māori. On the other hand, George Augustus Selwyn
and Nicholls, laid equal stress on the Industrial Nature of the proposed school, and these two concepts, the Industrial and the Native, tend to clash. The industrial aspect demanded a considerable amount of manual labor, which the Māori resented, and, it is reported, many of the Pākehā colonists objected to their children working alongside the Māori.
One of the main problems which led to the failure of the school only six years after its opening, was the basic philosophy reflected in its original name, ‘The Church of England Native and Industrial School’. Nicholls and Selwyn both appear to have concurred that the school should embrace a variety of concepts and popular ideas originating from the Swiss born Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746–1827) in that they were establishing a school for destitute children of a self-supporting type based on agricultural means. However the Māori inhabitants did not appreciate the industrial philosophy, Nicholls was also accused of exceeded the work/labor aspect and it was accused that he saw the pupils too much in the light of cheap labor. As early as 1853, when concerned about the enormity of the labour required in preparing the school land, he wrote to Selwyn that matters would improve “when we get the labor of the pupils”. Richard Taylor wrote that “the Bishop of New Zealand introduced the industrial or self-supporting system, but it did not succeed. The parents as well as the scholars got the idea that there was more labor than teaching, and that they gave more than they gained.
Nicholls concept of the industrial school, together with the demands of converting swamp and barren sand ridges to building and agricultural land, undoubtedly clashed with the expectations and demands of the native aspect of the school’s title. This basic interference of one philosophy with another, together with the characters involved sowed the seeds of the troubles for the school in its opening years.
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The school is affiliated to the Anglican church.
About
The Wanganui Collegiate School was founded by a land grant in 1852 by the Governor of New ZealandGovernor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
, Sir George Grey
George Edward Grey
Sir George Grey, KCB was a soldier, explorer, Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Cape Colony , the 11th Premier of New Zealand and a writer.-Early life and exploration:...
, to the Bishop of New Zealand, George Augustus Selwyn
George Augustus Selwyn
George Augustus Selwyn was the first Anglican Bishop of New Zealand. He was Bishop of New Zealand from 1841 to 1858. His diocese was then subdivided and Selwyn was Primate of New Zealand from 1858 to 1868. He was Bishop of Lichfield from 1868 to 1878...
, for the purpose of establishing a school. It was originally a boys-only school but in 1991 began admitting girls at senior levels and went fully co-educational in 1999. The school celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2004.
The school amalgamated with St George’s School in 2010. The combined schools provide primary education for day students on the St George campus, and secondary education for day and boarding students on the Collegiate campus.
Collegiate is an International Member of The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference(HMC) which represents heads of the leading independent schools in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland and international schools mainly from the Commonwealth. Wanganui Collegiate is one of only three member schools in New Zealand.
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO is the third son and fourth child of Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh...
, spent two terms in 1982 at the school as a junior master during his gap year
Gap year
An expression or phrase that is associated with taking time out to travel in between life stages. It is also known as sabbatical, time off and time out that refers to a period of time in which students disengage from curricular education and undertake non curricular activities, such as travel or...
.
School life
As a boarding school, the house systemHouse system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
plays a significant role in student life. Each house (of which there are 6 in total; four for boys and two for girls) accommodates approximately 80 students, and each has its own Housemaster, Assistant Housemaster and Matron.
The school grounds are also host to numerous sporting facilities, including the Izard Gymnasium, High Performance Cricket Centre, a full-sized Cross Country Course and many team sports fields. The nearby Whanganui River
Whanganui River
The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand.Known for many years as the Wanganui River, the river's name reverted to Whanganui in 1991, according with the wishes of local iwi. Part of the reason was also to avoid confusion with the Wanganui River in the South Island...
is used by students for rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
training and competitions; Rowing being one of the sports in which Collegiate has traditionally excelled, having won the Maadi Cup
Maadi Cup
The Maadi Cup is the prize for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Boys' Under 18 Rowing Eights. More colloquially, it is the name given to the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Regatta, at which the Maadi Cup is raced...
17 times, a national record. The School also hosts the nationally popular Wanganui Cricket Festival each year which sees over 1000 cricketers display their skills throughout the month of January.
Since 1925, the school's 'First XV' rugby team has played Christ's College
Christ's College, Canterbury
Christ's College, Christchurch is an independent, Anglican, secondary, day and boarding school for boys, located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand....
, Wellington College
Wellington College (New Zealand)
Wellington College is a state secondary school for boys in Mount Victoria in Wellington, New Zealand.-History:Wellington College opened in 1867 as Wellington Grammar School in Woodward Street, though Sir George Grey gave the school a deed of endowment in 1853. In 1874 it opened at its present...
and Nelson College
Nelson College
Nelson College is a boys-only state secondary school in Nelson, New Zealand. It teaches from years 9 to 13. In addition, it runs a private Preparatory School for year 7 and 8 boys...
in an annual quadrangular rugby tournament.
Notable alumni
- Rebecca ScownRebecca ScownRebecca Scown is a professional rower. Together with Juliette Haigh, she won a gold medal in the women's pair at the Rowing World Cup regatta in Lucerne, 2010 and followed this by winning the 2010 World Rowing Championships in Lake Karapiro.-Schooling:Scown completed her schooling at Wanganui...
- Gold Medalist rower - Earl BamberEarl BamberEarl Anderson Bamber is a motor racing driver and commentator from New Zealand.-Career:Bamber is a young rookie driver with a reputation for suffering from bouts of red mist but has demonstrated race driving talent when progressing through karts and minor single seater series, and in 2008 was...
- professional motor racing driver - Robin Cooke, Baron Cooke of ThorndonRobin Cooke, Baron Cooke of Thorndon-External links:*, The Times, 22 September 2006*, The Daily Telegraph, 26 September 2006* House of Lords minutes of proceedings, 9 October 2006*, 4 September 2006...
- Law Lord - Prince Edward, Earl of WessexPrince Edward, Earl of WessexPrince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO is the third son and fourth child of Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh...
- Volker HeineVolker HeineVolker Heine FRS is a New Zealand-British physicist.He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and the University of Otago, then Clare College, Cambridge where he became a fellow and professor. He obtained his PhD in physics in Cambridge as student of Sir Nevill Mott.He was elected Fellow of...
- physicist - Joline HenryJoline HenryJoline Henry is a New Zealand netball player. Henry is a current member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and plays with the Northern Mystics in the ANZ Championship....
- Silver Fern netballer - Nichkhun HorvejkulNichkhun HorvejkulNichkhun Horvejkul ; is a Thai Chinese American singer in 2PM, a 6-member boy band that is active in South Korea and managed by JYP Entertainment.-Background:...
- member of Korean pop band 2PM - Jimmy HunterJimmy HunterJimmy Hunter was a rugby union footballer who played for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks. He played mainly at second five-eighth, although he could play any position in the backline...
- member of The Original All Blacks - David KirkDavid KirkDavid Edward Kirk, MBE, , is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He is best known for having been the captain of the All Blacks when they won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987....
- All Black World Cup winning captain, and former Chief Executive of Fairfax MediaFairfax MediaFairfax Media Limited is one of Australia's largest diversified media companies. The group's operations include newspapers, magazines, radios and digital media operating in Australia and New Zealand. Fairfax Media was founded by the Fairfax family as John Fairfax and Sons, later to become John... - Patrick MarshallPatrick MarshallDr. Patrick Marshall was a geologist who lived in New Zealand. For over forty years he was an outstanding figure among New Zealand scientists, and was well known to geologists in many lands as a very versatile and productive investigator. His research was also devoted to zoology...
- 1881 to 1889(?) - Arthur Porritt, Baron PorrittArthur Porritt, Baron Porritt- External links :* * *...
- former Governor-General of New ZealandGovernor-General of New ZealandThe Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state.... - John ScottJohn Scott (humanitarian)John Maurice Scott was the Director General of the Fiji Red Cross and received a Red Cross award for his role in the hostage crisis during the 2000 Fijian coup d'état....
- former Director-General of the Fiji Red Cross - Ratu Sir Lala SukunaLala SukunaRatu Sir Lala Sukuna, KCMG, KBE was a Fijian chief, scholar, soldier, and statesman. He is regarded as the forerunner of the post-independence leadership of Fiji...
- Fijian statesman - Jeremy WellsJeremy WellsJeremy "Newsboy" Wells is a New Zealand television personality, most famous as the host of TVNZ's satirical news show, Eating Media Lunch. He is also a co-host of The Saturday Special radio show with Steve Simpson on New Zealand radio station bFM.Wells was born in Auckland, New Zealand, the son of...
(Newsboy) - New Zealand television and radio personality
Headmasters
- Charles Henry Sinderby Nicholls - 1854 to 1865
- Henry H Godwin - 1865 to 1877
- George Richard Saunders - 1878 to 1882
- Bache Wright Harvey - 1882 to 1887
- Walter Epsom - 1888 to 1909
- Julian Llewellyn Dove - 1909 to 1914
- Hugh Latter - 1914 to 1916
- Patrick MarshallPatrick MarshallDr. Patrick Marshall was a geologist who lived in New Zealand. For over forty years he was an outstanding figure among New Zealand scientists, and was well known to geologists in many lands as a very versatile and productive investigator. His research was also devoted to zoology...
- 1917 to 1922 - Robert Guy Wilson - 1922
- Charles Frederick Pierce - 1922 to 1931
- John Allen - 1932 to 1935
- Frank William GilliganFrank William GilliganFrank William Gilligan OBE was an English cricketer who played for Oxford University and was an integral part of the Essex county side for ten years...
- 1936 to 1954 - Rab Brougham Bruce-Lockhart - 1954 to 1960
- Thomas Umfrey WellsThomas Wells (cricketer)Thomas Umfrey Wells was a New Zealand-born cricketer who played first-class cricket in England in the early 1950s...
- 1960 to 1980 - Ian McKinnonIan McKinnonIan Duncan McKinnon, QSO, JP, is a New Zealand educator and local politician, serving presently as Deputy Mayor on Wellington City Council.-Teacher administrator:Ian McKinnon, BCom, DipEd, began his teaching career at King's College, Auckland...
- 1980 to 1988 - Trevor Stanton McKinlay - 1988 to 1995
- Johnathan Rae Hensman - 1995 to 2003
- Craig Considine - 2003 to 2008
- Tim Wilbur - 2008 to current
Early history
The first head of the school was Rev. Charles Henry Sinderby Nicholls, who remained at the school from 1854 until 1860. At the time of the Rev. Mr. Nicholls advent, the greater part of the Wanganui Industrial estate-250 acres (1 km²) fronting Victoria Avenue, and within ten minutes' walk of the post office was a wilderness of swampSwamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
, and hills, scrub, fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
‘toe-toe’, and flax
New Zealand flax
New Zealand flax describes common New Zealand perennial plants Phormium tenax and Phormium cookianum, known by the Māori names harakeke and wharariki respectively...
.
It was originally intended as a training school and educational establishment for the poor and indigent natives and half castes of both races in New Zealand and the islands adjacent thereto, but at the very beginning the school was beset by various problems. Not least were the problems of the local community as it found its feet in the new land. The Pākehā
Pakeha
Pākehā is a Māori language word for New Zealanders who are "of European descent". They are mostly descended from British and to a lesser extent Irish settlers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, although some Pākehā have Dutch, Scandinavian, German, Yugoslav or other ancestry...
and Māori relationship was no worse in Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
than elsewhere in the north island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
, but the cultural differences did affect the early school and the later Māori Land wars certainly curtailed potential growth in the boarding.
There were also sharp differences of opinion amongst the local leading personalities, not only concerning the land development on which the school was sited, but concerning the function of the school itself. There is little doubt that Richard Taylor
Richard Taylor
Richard Taylor may refer to:*Richard Taylor , father of U.S. president Zachary Taylor*Richard Taylor , British general*Richard Taylor , son of U.S...
and Governor Sir George Grey envisaged that the school’s primary function was to be a Native School for Christianizing the Māori. On the other hand, George Augustus Selwyn
George Augustus Selwyn
George Augustus Selwyn was the first Anglican Bishop of New Zealand. He was Bishop of New Zealand from 1841 to 1858. His diocese was then subdivided and Selwyn was Primate of New Zealand from 1858 to 1868. He was Bishop of Lichfield from 1868 to 1878...
and Nicholls, laid equal stress on the Industrial Nature of the proposed school, and these two concepts, the Industrial and the Native, tend to clash. The industrial aspect demanded a considerable amount of manual labor, which the Māori resented, and, it is reported, many of the Pākehā colonists objected to their children working alongside the Māori.
One of the main problems which led to the failure of the school only six years after its opening, was the basic philosophy reflected in its original name, ‘The Church of England Native and Industrial School’. Nicholls and Selwyn both appear to have concurred that the school should embrace a variety of concepts and popular ideas originating from the Swiss born Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746–1827) in that they were establishing a school for destitute children of a self-supporting type based on agricultural means. However the Māori inhabitants did not appreciate the industrial philosophy, Nicholls was also accused of exceeded the work/labor aspect and it was accused that he saw the pupils too much in the light of cheap labor. As early as 1853, when concerned about the enormity of the labour required in preparing the school land, he wrote to Selwyn that matters would improve “when we get the labor of the pupils”. Richard Taylor wrote that “the Bishop of New Zealand introduced the industrial or self-supporting system, but it did not succeed. The parents as well as the scholars got the idea that there was more labor than teaching, and that they gave more than they gained.
Nicholls concept of the industrial school, together with the demands of converting swamp and barren sand ridges to building and agricultural land, undoubtedly clashed with the expectations and demands of the native aspect of the school’s title. This basic interference of one philosophy with another, together with the characters involved sowed the seeds of the troubles for the school in its opening years.