Wellington College of Education
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Wellington College of Education (formerly Wellington Teachers' Training College) was established in 1888 with the purpose of educating teachers in New Zealand. It became the Faculty of Education of Victoria University of Wellington, formed from the School of Education (of the Faculty of Humanities of Social Sciences) of the University, and the Wellington College of Education on 1 January 2005.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="barrowman">Template:Cite book</ref>
From 1968 to 2016, it occupied an architecturally award winning campus in the Wellington suburb of Karori, designed by local architect William Toomath. The campus was awarded an NZIA Silver Medal (1972), and an NZIA Local Award (Enduring Architecture) (2005).<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> The campus had many facilities including a marae called Ako Pai Marae that was closed in 2016.
About
[edit]Wellington Teachers’ Training College had a 125th anniversary in 2005, the College having been originally established in 1880.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
A decision to expand the teacher training facilities in Wellington was made in the 1930s, however it was not until 1966 that the building of the Karori campus began. There were teacher training reforms in the mid-twentieth centenary that were triggered by increased populations after World War Two.<ref name=":0" /> The campus was architecturally significant and had a Category 1 rating by Heritage New Zealand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was transferred from the Ministry of Education to Victoria University of Wellington in 2004 for $10. It was sold by Victoria University of Wellington to Ryman Healthcare in 2017 for $28 million.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> Two of the heritage buildings were subsequently planned for demolition as part of the development by Ryman's, with Historic Places Wellington stating this would be a "significant cultural loss".<ref name=":3" /> A local group proposed the hall and cafeteria be retained for community use.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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Part way through demolition in 2020
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Architectural detail
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Side of the hall
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Tower block during demolition
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Architectural detail
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'Te Whanau o Ako Pai o te Upoko o Te Ika' - sign over main entrance
The faculty has had many notable teachers and students over its long history, significantly in New Zealand’s education system, arts sector and Māori rights movement.<ref name=":0" />
Māori studies was introduced in 1963 with the appointment of Barry Mitcalfe in the Department of Social Studies. Tīpene O'Reagan joined Mitcalfe in 1968 and then redesigned the programme in 1972 when Mitcalfe left.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>
Author David McGill, who attended in the early 1960s, says of his experience:
As students, we all wore desert boots, fishermen's knit jerseys. We'd go to cafes and pubs. Barrett's was the nearest pub, or the George. Girls weren't allowed into pubs, so we'd go into coffee bars with them.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Those were the days, at that wonderful teachers' college in Karori, with liberal teachers like Jack Shallcrass.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>
Wellington Teachers Training College was renamed the Wellington College of Education in 1988 in line with government policy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Notable staff
[edit]- Fanny Irvine-Smith lectured in New Zealand history and Māori culture until 1932. (These subjects were not taught much at this time and so this was quite unique). Irvine-Smith was also the president of the Wellington Teachers College dramatic society.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite bookTemplate:Pn</ref>
- Doreen Blumhardt (b1914), head of the Art Department in the early years.<ref name=":0" />
- Apirana Mahuika (b1934) Māori leader and chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Porou.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Olive Smithells (b1920), lecturer in health and physical education.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- Barry Mitcalfe, Department of Social Studies (1963 - 1972)<ref name=":2" />
- Tīpene O'Regan (b1939) Senior Lecturer in Māori studies - started in 1972
- Jan Bolwell, Head of Performing Arts (1987-1997)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Jack Shallcrass (b1922) writer and educationalist.<ref name=":1" />
- Keri Kaa, Senior Lecturer in Māori Studies (1979 - 1998), chair of ASTE, and member of the College Council.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Geraldine McDonald, lecturer in Professional Studies (1971 - 1974)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Notable alumni
[edit]Attended prior to 1960
[edit]- Marie Bell (1922–2012), educationalist. Attended in 1939.
- Iritana Te Rangi Tāwhiwhirangi (1929–2025), advocate of Māori language education and the Kohanga Reo movement (1947–1948).<ref>Template:Cite bookTemplate:Pn</ref>
- Sydney Jones (1894–1982), National MP for Hastings (1949–1954).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Alistair Campbell (1925–2009), poet, playwright, and novelist. Graduated in 1954.<ref>Template:DNZB</ref>
- Cliff Whiting (1936–2017), Māori artist and teacher. Attended in 1955.
- Noel Hilliard (1929–1996), journalist and novelist. Graduated in 1955.
- Rose Pere (1937–2020), educationalist and spiritual leader. Attended in 1956 and 1957.
- Patricia Grace (born 1937), writer.
Attended in the 1960s and 1970s
[edit]- Margie Abbott (born 1958) businessperson and the wife of Tony Abbott, the 28th Prime Minister of Australia (attended in 1974).
- Helen Beaglehole (born 1946), children's author and historian. Attended 1978.
- Maureen Lander (born 1942), weaver and artist. Attended 1963.
- Robert Lord, playwright, attended in 1969 and 1970.
- Sam Hunt (born 1946), poet, attended in 1968.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- David McGill (born 1942), writer, attended early 1960s.
Attended in or after the 1980s
[edit]- Helen Kelly (1964–2016), trade unionist. Enrolled in 1983, she also became the president of the student association.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Nina Nawalowalo (born 1963), theatre director and founder of The Conch theatre production company.
Dates of attendance unknown
[edit]- George Lowe (1924–2013), mountaineer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Roy Cowan (1918–2006), potter, illustrator, and printmaker.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- John Drawbridge (1930–2005), artist.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Kahu Kaa Jenkins (born 1941), educationalist, researcher and author.
- Diane Prince (born 1952), contemporary Māori artist and weaver.
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Template:Official website
- Press releases/VicNews bulletins on the merger:
Template:Vocational education in New Zealand Template:Authority control Template:Coord