A new walking tour round the Historic Places Trust’s Te Waimate Mission in the Bay of Islands highlights its importance as a centre of learning.

Site manager Mita Harris says the walk takes in not just the Mission, which is New Zealand’s second oldest building, but also the adjacent King Paddock.

That’s where the archaeological remains can still be seen of the school established by Bishop George Augustus Selwyn in 1842.

The complex included the original St John’s College to train Anglican priests, the Collegiate school for the sons of missionaries and other Pakeha; a school to train Māori teachers and preachers; the Native Boys’ School for Māori boys, and an infant school.

Mr Harris says in the brief period before Selwyn departed for Auckland, Te Waimate Mission became something unique, combining a kind of seminary, grammar school, polytech and primary school with its own strong sense of community.


He hīkoi, he momo akoranga.

Kei te whai hua te hikoi e whakahaerehia ana ki te whare tāwhito rawa tuarua ō te motu, arā, ki te mīhana ō Waimate i te Pē-ō-Te Whairangi.
Hei tā Mita Harris, kaitiaki i te Mihana, ka karapoti te hikoi nei i te mihana me te papa whenua ō King Paddock.

Kei reira tonu ngā toenga ō te kura i whakatūria ai e Pihopa George Augustus Selwyn i te tau kotahi mano, waru rau, whā tekau mā rua.
Hei tā Harris, tokomaha ngā rōpū e hikoi ana i te hikoi nei, kia ako ai rātou i te hītori ō te rohe, otira, ō te whenua nei.





Copyright © 2013, Uma Broadcasting Ltd