Taita is one of the easternmost suburbs of Lower Hutt City in New Zealand, situated toward the northern end of the city. It is south of the Taita Gorge which separates Lower Hutt City from Upper Hutt City

An Education Act of the Provincial Council passed in 1855 became operative only in such districts as the Superintendent might proclaim. The "rate-payers" therin were organised by means of an initial general meeting, the election of a Committee and subsequent annual general meetings.
The District Committee were entrusted with full responsibility for the management of the school, including the appointment of tears.
It appears that these provisions did not become fully operative until 1866 whn the Superintendant gazetted a notice defining the Taita or Middle Hutt School District. In 1859 however, a committee under the chairmanship of WIlliam Philpot applied to the Provincial Council for a subsidy. The applications, dated 24th June 1859 and 1st August 1859 are held by the National Archives in Wellington. Copies show that the school opened on 1st March 1859, the site of the school being somewhere between Mabey Road and Avalon Park

The building was 12 x 20 feet (which is about 3.66 x 6.1 meters) with a playground and had an attendance of up to 33 children

Copy of documents held by Nation Archives, The Terrace, Wellington. Reference: Wellington Provincial Council, Series 3, 1959/274 and 59/327

Taita, June 24, 1859

To His Honor,
J. E. Featherston, Esqr.,
Superintendent,
Province of Wellington

May it please your honour,
We the undersigned inhabitants of this part of the district of the Hutt, having long felt the want of the regular means of School instruction for our children, have recently formed ourselves into a committee for the establishment of a ay School in our neighbourhood.
Our School has already been established upwards of three months (viz) from the first of March of the present year the number of children and youth in the school are 28 - the income of the school during the past three months has been a little upwards of $11 or about 17/- per week, which we consider insufficient to remunerate an efficient schoolmaster and knowing the interest that your Honour has taken in the establishment of schools we beg leave humbly to solicit through you that precuniary assistance from the Government which may be at your disposa that will enable us to carry on and consolidate the school which we trust will be of great benefit to the children of this locality
- We are, Sir,
- Signed Your Humble and Obt. Servants,
William Philpot, Chairman
William Hughey (1802-1878)
David Hughey (1829-1919)
Peter Trotter (1826-1899)
John Leveston
George Buck (1818-1894) gave the land on which the school was built
William Dew senior (1807-1862)
John Dew (1836-1869)
Matthew Hamilton
Job Mabey (1812-1896)
Richard Clifton (1802-?)
Frederick Smith
Thomas Robinson
George P Phillips
John Smith
Robert Cleland (1836-1884)
Sydney Hirst (1814-1861) very probably built the school but not yet confirmed
John Sheering
George Greeks (?-?)
William Scarrow (1811-1895)
John King
William Robinson


This old Taita school no longer exists but on the site stands the Taita Intermediate School

On the 8th February 1861
TAITA SCHOOL GATHERING - The annual Tea Meeting in connection with the Taita day school, was held in the school room on Thurdsay, January 17th, when there was a full attendance of scholars and their friends. After an abundant tea, cricket and other rustic games engaged the attention of the youngsters until dusk, - and the proceeings of a happy holday, were terminated by a lecture on "The Life and Times of John Bunyan," delivered by the Rev. H. W. Scott. Votes of thanks to the lecturer, and to the choir of the Wesleyan Church, for their efficient vocal and instrumental service were passed, and all separated, gratified, and we hope benefitted, by the enjoyments of the day.

On the 16th August 1864
NOTICE - The Subscribers to the Taita School Building Fund are respectfully requested to pay the amount of the donations to any of the indermentioned members of the School Committee, with as little delay as possible
Mr McCullock
William Welch
George Buck
William Cleland
David Hughey
William Milne
WILLIAM BEETHAM, Chairman

On the 18th February 1865
WANTED a School Master and Mistress for the Taita School. A married couple preferred. Salaries ?150 and ?50 respectively with residence.
Testimonials and References to be addressed to:
W. CLELAND, Hon. Sec., School Committee, Taita, Hutt Valley, Wellington, January 1865
.. (?150 in 1865 is worth around $14,777 today or $280 a week)

Many records have been lost or were not held during the very early days of the school
What I have so far for the years 1859-1900:
HEADMASTERS - all men
1859 Robinson
1865 W. Mantell
1867 Nickless
1871 S. Williams
1875 Sinclair
1879 R. Johnson
1886 John J Mahood
1889 Gordon Ponsonby
1892-1902 A. W. Williamson

SCHOOLTEACHERS
1865 Mrs Mantell
no records found until 1879
1880 Nita Johnson
1881 Laura Welch daughter of William Read Welch
1887 Annie Boulcott & Ellen Meager daughter of Henry Meager & Elizabeht Welch
1889 Henrietta Boulcott
1895 Leonard Price
1900 William Bennett

Winifred Morgan Buck (nee James 1883-1976) wrote in about 1960 when she was then living in Te Kuiti .. "My husband's grandfather, George Green Buck gave the land for the Taita School. Previously he had owned land and a house which became known as Clifton (Clevedon) House School and that, I believe, was the first school at Taita. The large schoolroom was built on the side of the house. This was built on the corner of the Main road and James Lane. I have just discovered the account book of Taita A.D. School instituted 1850. The names on the front page are: David Lyons, William Welch, John Bryce, Alex McLeod, George Buck, Henry Buck, Edward Hart and Job Mabey. The next pages are torn out"

1875-1900 Taita School Roll Call

1901-1910 Taita School Roll Call

1911-1915 Taita School Roll Call

1916-1920 Taita School Roll Call

1921-1925 Taita School Roll Call

1926-1930 Taita School Roll Call

1931-1936 Taita School Roll Call

1937-1951 Taita School Roll Call