Mairehau High School

Mairehau High School
Address
Hills Road,
Christchurch,
New Zealand
Coordinates 43°29′38″S 172°38′55″E / 43.4939°S 172.6486°E / -43.4939; 172.6486Coordinates: 43°29′38″S 172°38′55″E / 43.4939°S 172.6486°E / -43.4939; 172.6486
Information
Type State Co-educational Secondary (years 9-13)
Motto Māori: Mairetia i te matauranga
Be fragrant with wisdom
Established 1961
Ministry of Education Institution no. 320
Principal Harry Romana
School roll 350[1] (July 2017)
Socio-economic decile 4K[2]
Website www.mairehau.school.nz

Mairehau High School is a school in Christchurch, New Zealand, taking its name from the suburb Mairehau having been adopted in 1916 as a compliment to Mrs Mairehau Hutton whose father, Arthur Gravenor Rhodes, owned considerable property in the area and was a notable benefactor to the district. [3]

The name mairehau belongs also to a shrub which grows well in the kauri areas of New Zealand. It is noted for its small, whitish, prolifically growing flowers and for its fragrance.

According to legend Maire was the Maori mist maiden. She, of course, was invisible to mortal eyes and her presence could be detected only by her perfume (hau), the nearest to which in nature was the shrub which thenceforward was known as mairehau.

The school is located at the northeast end of the suburb, near to Shirley, thus forming a coeducation alternative to Shirley Boys' High School, and Avonside Girls' High School. Mairehau High School opened on February 1, 1961, having been constructed on the advice of the Department of Statistics (now Statistics New Zealand).

Waka Groups

Mairehau uses waka groups in place of school houses as we believe that like a waka (canoe) travelling from destination to destination, we are all travelling together on a journey of strong learning. We need to all work together to excel and reach our absolute potential as individuals; which makes our waka strong. With out the structural support of all four sides of the waka, the waka can not continue to move forward in one direction of strength.

The names and colours of the Mairehau waka groups are:

Notes

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