Okaihau College

In 1973 the Okaihau district high school in the Far North District of New Zealand was granted Form 1-7 (Year 7-13) status and became Okaihau College with Mr. Laurenson as first principal. At the same time a full primary school was completed around the Infant Block with Mr. N. Thomson becoming the first headmaster. At the end of 1973 there were 263 pupils attending the college and 219 at the primary school. Since then, the school has grown to the larger roll of 427 pupils. The decile rating is 2. Students are predominantly of Māori (67%), and European (28%) descent. The name "Okaihau" is a Māori name which means "Feast of the winds", which is relevant to the location of the area on a ridge over 200 m above sea level. This part of New...