Kōwhai Intermediate School is a state co-educational intermediate school located in the suburb of

Kingsland Kingsland may refer to: Places ;Barbados * Kingsland, Barbados (in Christ Church, Barbados Parish) ;Canada * Kingsland, Calgary, Alberta, a neighborhood ;Australia * proposed alternative name for the Northern Territory in 1912 ;New Zealand * Kings ...

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

, New Zealand. The school opened in October 1922, and was the first intermediate school in New Zealand.

History

During the early 20th century, the borough of Mount Albert was one of the fastest growing areas of Auckland. Overcrowding at Edendale School was so great that by 1918, older students at the school were moved to a temporary satellite school in St Alban's Parish Hall. In 1920, the New Zealand Government purchased a property on Kowhai Street in

to alleviate these issues. While Kingsland residents expected the government to establish a primary school on the site, the Department of Education decided to experiment with the facility, establishing the first intermediate school in the country. Intermediate schools were established as education specialists during the 1920s had begun to recognise early adolescence as a key time during development, and that this period of life needed special treatment in education. The school opened on 1 October 1922, under the name Kowhai Junior High School. 670 students arrived on the first day, even though only 600 places were available at the school. A new administration block and library were constructed for the school in 2004. In 2006, the school opened a

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bilingual unit, Gafoa le Ata. In 2018, Kōwhai Intermediate banned students' use of social media while being students of the school.

Notable alumni

* Bob Harvey, mayor of Waitakere City * Laulu Fetauimalemau Mataʻafa, Samoan politician and the first Samoan high commissioner to New Zealand *

Robert Muldoon Sir Robert David Muldoon (; 25 September 19215 August 1992) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand, from 1975 to 1984, while leader of the National Party. Serving as a corporal and sergeant in th ...

, Prime Minister of New Zealand *

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, hip-hop group *

Tigilau Ness Tigilau Ness (born c. 1954) is a Niuean New Zealand activist and reggae artist, and performs as Unity Pacific. Ness is a political activist and first generation Pacific Island New Zealander. Lifetime achievement award In May 2009, Ness was presen ...

, activist and reggae musician

References

External links

* {{Albert-Eden Local Board Area Intermediate schools in Auckland Albert-Eden Local Board Area Educational institutions established in 1922 1922 establishments in New Zealand