| Nukutere College | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1975 |
| Type | Catholic co-educational secondary school |
| Affiliations | Catholic, Christian Brothers |
| Principal | Ms Donna Nahu, PO Box 76, Rarotonga |
| Founder | Bishop John Rodgers SM |
| Grades | Year 7 - 11 |
| Location | Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands |
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.[1] "Nukutere" means "people on a journey", a reference to the pilgrim Church in the South Pacific context.[2]
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The college was opened in 1975 by Bishop John Rodgers SM, 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.[3]
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.[4] The Silver Jubilee of the College and the presence of the Christian Brothers was marked in 2000[5] and in 2005, the school had a roll of 190.[6]
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).[7] The new block was designed by respected Auckland architecture firm, Architectus.[8]
The Christian Brothers ceased to be on the staff of the college at the end of 2009.[9] More than 20 Christian Brothers served at Nukutere college (1975–2009).[10] 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.[10]
Students come mainly from Rarotonga, but provision is made for those from outer islands (and even from French Polynesia - not far distant) to stay with 'guardians'.[11] 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.[12] The college generally has a roll of 170-200 pupils and a staff of 13.[13][14] 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.[15]
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