Aranui (Primary) School 1911 – 2016

1911 the ‘New Brighton district’ was becoming populated. New Brighton was a vast area that has shrunk with the gradual suburbs emerging from the sandhills. Until 1911, Aranui was part of New Brighton when for an unknown reason the new school in Breezes Road called it’s self Aranui School.

It began in the ‘Mission Hall’ church opposite Woodlands Place. The Mission Hall was built just 3 years earlier in 1908 as part of St Faiths Anglican Church in ‘New Brighton’. With the tram line running along ‘New Brighton tram Road’, later renamed Pages Road, the new residents to the area were building close to the tram lines as for many it was their main or only transport apart from Shank’s Pony.

1913 the church building was relocated to behind the existing St Ambrose Anglican Church still on Breezes Road but much more convenient to the wider population.

1915 the education board bought land and built the first classroom at 257 Breezes Road, Aranui School.

2012 the school celebrated it’s 101st birthday. The 2011 earthquakes delayed the celebration. Read a full history of the school in the book ‘Aranui School Centennial (plus one earthquake) 1911 – 2012.     

Shortly there will be 1000 photos of the school classes, camps, events etc. Watch this space.

Shortly film footage of the school will also be added to this site. Watch this space.