Waiopehu College

School

40°37′49″S 175°17′46″E / 40.63038°S 175.29621°E / -40.63038; 175.29621InformationFunding typeStateEstablishedFebruary 1973 (February 1973)Ministry of Education Institution no.237ChairpersonJenny WarrenPrincipalGuy ReichenbachYears offered9–13GenderCoeducationalSchool roll617^[1] (February 2024)Websitewww.waiopehu.ac.nz

Waiopehu College is a state coeducational secondary school located in Levin, New Zealand. The school opened in February 1973 as Levin's second secondary school, after Horowhenua College struggled to cope with 1200 students.^[2] Serving Years 9 to 13 (ages 13 to 18), the school has a roll of 617 students as of February 2024.^[1]

The original school buildings were built to the Education Department's S68 design: single-storey classroom blocks of cinderblock or masonry construction, with low-pitched roofs and internal open courtyards. The college was one of many that had problems with leaking roofs in the 1990s and 2000s due to the S68's roof design.^[3] In 2014 the school opened a purpose-built teen parent unit.^[4] The building won an award in the 'education' category at the 2015 New Zealand Institute of Architects Awards.^[5]^[6] In 2016 a new special needs unit was opened.^[7]

Notable alumni

Barry Petherick – former principal at Waiopehu College, made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his work in education.^[8]
Carlos Spencer – rugby union player and coach, All Black (1995–2004).^[9]
Robert Nopera (Chubb) Tangaroa - international softball player,^[10] made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours List.

References

^ ^a ^b "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
^ Swarbrick, Nancy (16 November 2012). "First day at Waiopehu College - Numbers and types of schools - Primary and secondary education". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
^ Hill, Marika (5 July 2010). "Leaking roofs hit region's schools". Stuff. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
^ Townend, Lucy (27 January 2014). "Second chance for young mothers". Stuff. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
^ "He Whare Manaaki Tangata: Teen Parent Unit at Waiopehu College". NZ Institute of Architects. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
^ "He Whare Manaaki Tangata". McKenzie Higham Architects. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
^ Tuckey, Karoline (22 June 2016). "New architecture embraces inclusive unit at Waiopehu College". Stuff. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
^ "Four appointed to New Zealand Order of Merit". Stuff. 5 June 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
^ "Houston could follow same track as Carlos Spencer". The New Zealand Herald. 16 September 2005. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
^ "Robert Nopera Tangaroa". Heritage Horowhenua. Retrieved 4 May 2023.