Wellington College of Education (formerly Wellington Teachers' Training College) was established in 1888 with the purpose of educating teachers in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. It became the Faculty of Education of

Victoria University of Wellington Victoria University of Wellington ( mi, Te Herenga Waka) is a university in Wellington, New Zealand. It was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. The university is well know ...

, formed from the School of Education (of the Faculty of Humanities of Social Sciences) of the University, and the Wellington College of Education on 1 January 2005. From 1968 to 2016, it occupied an architecturally award winning campus in the Wellington suburb of

Karori Karori is a suburb located at the western edge of the urban area of Wellington, New Zealand, 4 km from the city centre and is one of New Zealand's most populous suburbs, with a population of in History Origins The name ''Karori'' used ...

, designed by local architect William Toomath. The campus was awarded an NZIA Silver Medal (1972), and an NZIA Local Award (Enduring Architecture) (2005). The campus had many facilities including a ''

marae A ' (in New Zealand Māori, Cook Islands Māori, Tahitian), ' (in Tongan), ' (in Marquesan) or ' (in Samoan) is a communal or sacred place that serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies. In all these languages, the term a ...

'' called Ako Pai Marae that was closed in 2016.

About

Wellington Teachers’ Training College had a 125th anniversary in 2005, the College having been originally established in 1880. A decision to expand the teacher training facilities in Wellington was made in the 1930s, however it was not until 1966 that the building of the Karori campus began. There were teacher training reforms in the mid-twentieth centenary that were triggered by increased populations after World War Two. The campus was architecturally significant and had a Category 1 rating by

Heritage New Zealand Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (initially the National Historic Places Trust and then, from 1963 to 2014, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust) ( mi, Pouhere Taonga) is a Crown entity with a membership of around 20,000 people that advocate ...

. It was transferred from the Ministry of Education to Victoria University of Wellington in 2004 for $10. It was sold by Victoria University of Wellington to Ryman Healthcare in 2017 for $28 million. Two of the heritage buildings were subsequently planned for demolition as part of the development by Ryman's, with Historic Places Wellington stating this would be a "significant cultural loss". A local group proposed the hall and cafeteria be retained for community use. File:Wgtn Teachers College A 04.jpg, Part way through demolition in 2020 File:Wgtn Teachers College C 01.jpg, Architectural detail File:Wgtn Teachers College C 18.jpg, Side of the hall File:Wgtn Teachers College C 26.jpg, Tower block during demolition File:Wgtn Teachers College C 10.jpg, Architectural detail File:Wgtn Teachers College C 21.jpg File:Wgtn Teachers College B 08.jpg File:Wgtn Teachers College C 15.jpg, 'Te Whanau o Ako Pai o te Upoko o Te Ika' - sign over main entrance The faculty has had many notable teachers and students over its long history, significantly in New Zealand’s education system, arts sector and Māori rights movement. Māori studies was introduced in 1963 with the appointment of

Barry Mitcalfe Barry Mitcalfe (31 March 1930 – 1986) was a New Zealand poet, editor, and peace activist. Born in 1930 in Wellington, New Zealand, Mitcalfe studied at Victoria University of Wellington, where he received a Diploma in Education in 1962, and a Ba ...

in the Department of Social Studies. Tīpene O'Reagan joined Mitcalfe in 1968 and then redesigned the programme in 1972 when Mitcalfe left. Author David McGill, who attended in the early 1960s, says of his experience:

As students, we all wore desert boots, fishermen's knit jerseys. We'd go to cafes and pubs. Barrett's was the nearest pub, or the George. Girls weren't allowed into pubs, so we'd go into coffee bars with them. Those were the days, at that wonderful teachers' college in Karori, with liberal teachers like Jack Shallcrass.

Wellington Teachers Training College was renamed the Wellington College of Education in 1988 in line with government policy.

Notable staff

Fanny Irvine-Smith Fanny Louise Irvine-Smith (10 September 1878 – 20 December 1948) was a New Zealand teacher, lecturer and writer. Early life Irvine-Smith was born in Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand on 10 September 1878. Her father Thomas Smith died in a sh ...

lectured in New Zealand history and

Māori culture Māori culture () is the customs, cultural practices, and beliefs of the indigenous Māori people of New Zealand. It originated from, and is still part of, Polynesians, Eastern Polynesian culture. Māori culture forms a distinctive part of Cul ...

until 1932. (These subjects were not taught much at this time and so this was quite unique). Irvine-Smith was also the president of the Wellington Teachers College dramatic society. * Doreen Blumhardt (b1914), head of the Art Department in the early years. *

Apirana Mahuika Apirana Tuahae Kaukapakapa Mahuika (1 May 1934 – 9 February 2015) was a New Zealand Māori tribal leader. He was chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Porou from its establishment in 1987 until his death in 2015. Biography Mahuika was born at Whakaw ...

(b1934) Māori leader and chair of Te Rūnanga o

Ngāti Porou Ngāti Porou is a Māori iwi traditionally located in the East Cape and Gisborne regions of the North Island of New Zealand. Ngāti Porou is affiliated with the 28th Maori Battalion and has the second-largest affiliation of any iwi in New Zealand ...

. * Olive Smithells (b1920), lecturer in health and physical education. *

, Department of Social Studies (1963 - 1972) * Tīpene O'Regan (b1939) Senior Lecturer in Māori studies - started in 1972 * Jan Bolwell, Head of Performing Arts (1987-1997) * Jack Shallcrass (b1922) writer and educationalist. * Keri Kaa, Senior Lecturer in Māori Studies (1979 - 1998), chair of ASTE, and member of the College Council. *

Geraldine McDonald Geraldine McDonald (; 13 May 1926 – 26 November 2018) was a New Zealand academic and teacher. She was a pioneer of research into women's education and early childhood education, and advocated for women and girls throughout her life. After a ...

, lecturer in Professional Studies (1971 - 1974)

Notable alumni

Attended prior to 1960

* Marie Bell (1922–2012), educationalist. Attended in 1939. * Iritana Te Rangi Tāwhiwhirangi (born 1929), advocate of

Māori language Māori (), or ('the Māori language'), also known as ('the language'), is an Eastern Polynesian language spoken by the Māori people, the indigenous population of mainland New Zealand. Closely related to Cook Islands Māori, Tuamotuan, and ...

education and the Kohanga Reo movement (1947–1948). *

Sydney Jones Sydney Ionoval Jones (23 May 1894 – 28 April 1982) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. Early life Jones was born in 1894 at Makotoku, a locality some south of Napier in the Waipawa district. He received his education from ...

(1894–1982), National MP for Hastings (1949–1954). * Alistair Campbell (1925–2009), poet, playwright, and novelist. Graduated in 1954. *

Cliff Whiting Clifford Hamilton Whiting (6 May 1936 – 16 July 2017) was a New Zealand artist, teacher and advocate for Māori heritage. Career In 1955, Whiting began teacher training at Wellington Teachers' College where his artistic talents were quickly ...

(1936–2017),

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...

artist and teacher. Attended in 1955. *

Noel Hilliard Noel Harvey Hilliard (6 February 1929 – 22 October 1996) was a New Zealand journalist and novelist. Background Hilliard was born in 1929 in Napier, New Zealand. He married Kiriwai Mete in 1954 and they were to have two sons and two daughters. ...

(1929–1996), journalist and novelist. Graduated in 1955. *

Rose Pere Rangimārie Te Turuki Arikirangi Rose Pere (25 July 1937 – 13 December 2020) was a New Zealand educationalist, spiritual leader, Māori language advocate, academic and conservationist. Of Māori descent, she affiliated with the iwi Ngāi T� ...

(1937–2020), educationalist and spiritual leader. Attended in 1956 and 1957. *

Patricia Grace Patricia Frances Grace (; born 17 August 1937) is a New Zealand Māori writer of novels, short stories, and children's books. She began writing as a young adult, while working as a teacher. Her early short stories were published in magazines, ...

(born 1937), writer.

Attended in the 1960s and 1970s

* Margie Abbott (born 1958) businessperson and the wife of

Tony Abbott Anthony John Abbott (; born 4 November 1957) is a former Australian politician who served as the 28th prime minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015. He held office as the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. Abbott was born in Londo ...

, the 28th

Prime Minister of Australia The prime minister of Australia is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The prime minister heads the executive branch of the Australian Government, federal government of Australia and is also accountable to Parliament of A ...

(attended in 1974). * Helen Beaglehole (born 1946), children's author and historian. Attended 1978. * Maureen Lander (born 1942), weaver and artist. Attended 1963. * Robert Lord, playwright, attended in 1969 and 1970. *

Sam Hunt Sam Lowry Hunt (born December 8, 1984) is an American singer and songwriter. Born in Cedartown, Georgia, Hunt played football in his high school and college years and once attempted to pursue a professional sports career before signing with MCA ...

(born 1946), poet, attended in 1968. * David McGill (born 1942), writer, attended early 1960s.

Attended in or after the 1980s

* Helen Kelly (1964–2016), trade unionist. Enrolled in 1983, she also became the president of the student association. *

Nina Nawalowalo Nina Nawalowalo is a New Zealand theatre director and co-founder of the contemporary Pacific theatre company The Conch. She is known for directing the stage plays ''Vula'' and ''The White Guitar.'' The first film she directed ''A Boy Called Pi ...

(born 1963), theatre director and founder of The Conch theatre production company.

Dates of attendance unknown

George Lowe George Edward Lowe (born November 10, 1957) is an American voice actor and comedian whose voice roles include Space Ghost on the animated series ''Space Ghost Coast to Coast'' and its spin-off, ''Cartoon Planet''.Roy Cowan (1918–2006), potter, illustrator, and printmaker. * John Drawbridge (1930–2005), artist. * Diane Prince (born 1952), contemporary Māori artist and weaver.

References

External links

* *''Press releases/VicNews bulletins on the merger:''
Merger finalised announcement

First press release by the University after the merger on the new Faculty

VicNews: Order-in-Council signed
(PDF)
VicNews: Merger finalised
(PDF)
First post-merger VicNews issue
(PDF) {{Coord, -41.28843, 174.76779, type:edu_globe:earth_region:NZ, display=title Victoria University of Wellington Wellington City Colleges of education in New Zealand