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Story: Te reo Māori – the Māori language

Karioi Native School, 1908

Karioi Native School, 1908

One of the key elements of the government's provision of education to Māori children in the 19th century was that instruction was in English. This played a significant role in undermining the Māori language. Here children from Karioi Native School in the central North Island show pictures they have drawn on their slates.

Using this item

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

Reference: Reference: 7-A12343

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

Rawinia Higgins rāua ko Basil Keane, Te reo Māori – the Māori language – The spread of English, 1840s to 1900, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/41075/karioi-native-school-1908 (accessed 20 June 2026).

Story by Rawinia Higgins rāua ko Basil Keane, published 13 March 2013, updated 1 September 2015.

Comments

Martin Traill
28 February 2023
The teacher in the photo is MARGARET MARION TRAILL LAMONT (nee Christie), Doctor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery of the University of London (England) and Diploma of Public Health of the University of Cambridge (England) 1867-1931. She was at Karioi from 1908 to 1912. She later spent 20 years in medical work in Mission Countries - India, Pacific, China, Middle East and Africa. Her husband was James Reid Lamont 1874-1953. Their daughter Ethel 'Anna' Olivia (Betty) Lamont was born at Karioi on 2 September 1909.