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Story: Country towns

Utuwai school

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Utuwai school

Schools for rural children were usually among the first buildings in country townships. From 1877 attendance at primary school was compulsory. These pupils, all clothed in smart garb including caps and berets, stand outside their schoolhouse at Utuwai, near Āpiti in northern Manawatū, in 1903.

Using this item

Palmerston North City Library

Reference: 2007N_Poh61_RTL_0863

by P. J. Christensen

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Country towns – Social life, 1870–1920, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/19404/utuwai-school (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 1 March 2009.