Story: Presbyterian Church

Ruatāhuna mission school

Ruatāhuna mission school

During the 1910s the Presbyterian Church, under the leadership of the Reverend John Laughton, began mission work with the Tūhoe people in the Urewera region. This included the opening of several native (Māori) schools. In 1918 the government supplied materials for this two-roomed school at Ruatāhuna. The use of wooden palings rather than weatherboards as cladding echoes traditional Māori architecture.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Sister Annie Henry Collection (PAColl-6098)
Reference: 1/2-030902-F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Ben Schrader, 'Presbyterian Church - Church building and missions', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/31076/ruatahuna-mission-school (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Ben Schrader, published 5 May 2011, updated 1 Mar 2017