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Story: Ngā take Māori – government policy and Māori

Te Kūiti Native School, around 1906

Te Kūiti Native School, around 1906

Te Kūiti Native School in King Country opened in 1898. That year the school's inspector reported, 'It seems to have overcome the prejudice of Maoris that are not yet Europeanised so far, that it is generally recognised by Maoris very conservative in other respects, that a school is certainly not a bad thing.' (Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1899, E-2, p. 6). Although the main purpose of native schools was to provide European education to Māori, non-Māori could also attend them, and several non-Māori pupils can be seen in this photo.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: AWNZ-18990616-6-1

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Mark Derby, Ngā take Māori – government policy and Māori – Conflict and compromise, 1860s to 1920s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/34382/te-kuiti-native-school-around-1906 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Mark Derby, published 5 June 2012.

Comments

Patricia Hughes
19 April 2021
Hello, I have a copy of this image from the Whitehead Collection at the Te Aha Museum in Kaitaia The photo was taken in 1906, or at least I believe so as my 1st cousin 3x removed Sarah Annie Whitehead is the teacher standing at the front. She sent the copy held at the Museum to her sister Mabel, signing the back with the date 27 Mar 1906. It might have been the day she sent the image. I can send a copy of the back if you would like?