School History

When Manurewa High opened in 1960 Manurewa’s population was about 10,000 and the school catchment area ran from Redoubt Road to the northern fringes of Papakura.  School buses collected students from as far away as Brookby.  By 2004, with a population of over 80,000,  Manurewa had  three secondary schools, and the school’s fourth principal headed the senior leadership team.

Over the years many students have achieved national prominence in fields as diverse as sport, business, education and academia.  Amongst the most easily recognised faces in the list of ex-students are Sir John Walker and broadcaster Wendy Petrie.

David Voisey is currently in charge of the school archives.  He was on the teaching staff from 1964 until 2005.  His memoirs, entitled “Sixty years of School Holidays” are available to view on his RewaNET site, and provide a comprehensive history of the school from his perspective over those years.

  • beautifying_grounds_by_hall_1960
    School grounds 1960
  • first_assembly_1960
    First assembly 1960
  • school-1961_1_
    School aerial photo 1961
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Over the years many students have achieved national prominence in fields as diverse as sport, business, education and academia. Amongst the most easily recognised faces in the list of ex-students are Sir John Walker and broadcaster Wendy Petrie.

David Voisey is currently in charge of the school archives. He was on the teaching staff from 1964 until 2005. His memoirs, entitled “Sixty years of School Holidays” are available to view on his RewaNET site, and provide a comprehensive history of the school from his perspective over those years.

View the David Voisey memoirs here

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"Achieving our potential, enjoying success - a tradition of excellence"