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Story: Children’s homes and fostering

Boys' Training Farm, Weraroa, 1912

Boys' Training Farm, Weraroa, 1912

The Boys' Training Farm at Weraroa in Levin was a government institution for children opened in 1905. It housed boys with behavioural problems – identified as 'delinquents' – although neglected and orphaned boys also ended up there. Occupational training was an important element of the institution's regime. These boys are threshing hay in 1912.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, E. R. Williams Collection

Reference: 1/2-065868-F

by William Williams

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

Kerryn Pollock, Children’s homes and fostering – Government institutions, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/28564/boys-training-farm-weraroa-1912 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 24 March 2011.

Comments

Karen Silingardi
08 October 2024
Thankyou for this photo. My grandfather Robert Franks, went to this farm after stealing a 2 pound cheque off Mr Johnson in 1910. I found an article in papers past which told the story.... the judge felt sorry for the poor boy as he had been abandoned by his father William Franks who was addicted to drink. FYI, Robert Franks escaped to Australia, changed his name to Eric Russell, fought in WW1 for Australia in Gallipoli and France, survived, came back to North Qld in Australia, where he raised 7 children, including my mother Violet (also the name of his poor sister who passed away as a child) and had a successful cane farm at Pindi Pindi, Calen. Wonderful to see part of his history in this photo. He may be in the photo. Regards Karen Silingardi