School History
1897 Muritai School opens for the first time on 17 March 1897
1903 School takes up residence at current site with Herbert Sansom as headmaster with 32 children.
1904 50 children on roll – Miss Hannah Feist takes up role of assistant teacher.
1905 Slates replaced with pencils and paper
1909 Roll reachers 100 but still only one room, permission granted to use McGuire’s Hall next to school. Homework introduced to improve attainment in arithmetic
1910 Additional classroom built
1914 Extra assistant teacher added to staff
1918 Roll reachers 200 and fourth teacher employed and fourth classroom added.
1919 School community raises 200 pounds to purchase land on Muritai Rd and Rimu St
1920 Roll 229, five teachers / 1 part-time teacher, 4 classrooms, one building
1921 Infant school construction and Mr Sansom retires. New headmaster Eustace King invites Minister of Education Hon C.J.Parr to open new infant school on current senior school site. Roll reaches 280.
1927 Roll reaches 382. Facilities around Eastbourne such as halls and churches taking overflow of children. Major issues with drainage and flooding.
1932 Eustace King retires and is replaced by Colonel A. B Charters. Elsie Cooke retires after 16 years as Infant Mistress.
1936 San Antonio opens with 35 students. Colonel Charters by Department of Education to Lyall Bay School. Mr D.G.Wilson replaces him. Houses introduced – Charters, King, Sanson and Cook. House captains selected.
1937 Roll around 400, school using Fire brigade hall and a converted cottage as classrooms. Fundraising puts radios in each classroom.
1938 Current room 4,5,6 built. Some surrounding properties purchases and demolished.
1940 Dental clinic built. Several staff away for military training.
1942 Mr Wilson left for military duties and returned in 1943.
1944 School fundraising purchases a movie projector.
1945 Mr Wilson resigns and is replaced by Mr Christensen.
1947 Road patrols started but end of year the school closed due to Polio epidemic. Mr Christensen leaves with no children in attendance.
1948 Mr Tom Martin appointed as headmaster. Still problems with accommodation. 80% of parents attend the first school open day.
1949 Parent meeting of 300 parents forms the Home and School committee.
1955 School hall opened
1957 Two storey building constructed. Original buildings demolished
1959 Mr Martin farewelled after 22 years service at Muritai School. Library established in current room 10.
1966 School Committee resolves to discontinue academic awards and Dux prize. School leaders abandoned and school council introduced with reps from each class – gradually faded out. Mr Stuart Hatch appointed as headmaster. School roll 489.
1968 Wahine storm saw school hall used as reception centre for survivors and cafeteria for police and searchers. It was a civil defence centre for the next fortnight.
1969 School Association completes adventure playground. School choir wins Wellington competition.
1970 Infant school declared a earthquake risk. Whole school goes to Wellington to see US president Lyndon Johnson.
1972 School turns 75 and holds Jubilee celebrartions. Children attending classes at rugby club, fore brigade hall and sports centre while Education Department debated replacing junior school.
1973 Two junior classes built on main school
1974 Infant school block demolished – debate over land went for next 20 years.
1976 Two houses removed from north of school to allow bigger field space. Year 7-8 children attend first school camp at Otaki Forks
1978 Eastbourne parents vote against the sending Muritai year 7-8 students to the proposed new Intermediate school in Petone, which was never built
1979 Mr Hatch resigns and is replaced by Mr Alan Scott
1985 Mr Alan Scott replaced by Mr Terry Barrett.
1987 Mr Barret replaced by Mrs Vilma Riley. Tomorrow’s Schools introduced. Board of Trustees elected.
1993 Mrs Riley retires and Mr Peter Pointon appointed.
1994 Hall extensions and renovations to administration buildings completed
1996 Art room built. School donation introduced to fund additional teachers. Year 8 students start the Abel Tasman experience.
1997 After 20 years the senior school ‘The centennial wing’ completed.
2001 Mr Pointon resigns and Andrew Bird appointed
2003 First Eastbourne Village Carnival as main school fundraiser. Raises $25,000 for ICT classroom
2004 Muritai School wins New Zealand Literacy prize.
2005 New playground on main school built with funds from 2004 Carnival that raised $40,000. School becomes ICT lead school.
Roll closed at 440.
2006 Administration block renovated