Kōwhai Intermediate School is a state co-educational

intermediate school Middle school, also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school, is an educational stage between primary school and secondary school. Afghanistan In Afghanistan, middle school includes g ...

located in the suburb of Kingsland in

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

, 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 Kingsland to alleviate these issues. While Kingsland residents expected the government to establish a primary school on the site, the

Department of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...

decided to experiment with the facility, establishing the first

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

Samoan language Samoan ( or , ) is a Polynesian languages, Polynesian language spoken by Samoans of the Samoan Islands. Administratively, the islands are split between the sovereign country of Samoa and the Unincorporated territories of the United States, Unit ...

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 Waitakere City was a Territorial Authorities of New Zealand, territorial authority in West Auckland, New Zealand, West Auckland, New Zealand; it was governed by the Waitakere City Council from 1989 to 2010. It was New Zealand's fifth-largest ...

* 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. Departing from National Party convention, Mu ...

, Prime Minister of New Zealand *

Nesian Mystik Nesian Mystik was a New Zealand hip-hop/ R&B group which formed in 1999. The cultural backgrounds of its members united a remarkable diversity of Polynesia by bringing together Cook Island, Tongan, Samoan and Maori ancestry. As well as prod ...

, hip-hop group *

Tigilau Ness Tigilau Ness (born 19 May 1955) 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 pr ...

, 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