Mahora School

History

After much pressure on the Hawke’s Bay Education Board Mahora a one room school was built and opened on the present site 1903.

Through and after the First World War as the Mahora suburb grew so did Mahora School.

When a new primary school was built in the Raureka Area it was called Mahora West and, for a short time, we were known as Mahora North.  In 1928 our present swimming pool was built and was strong enough to survive the Hawke’s Bay earthquake.

In 1931 tragedy hit the school when the Hawke’s Bay Earthquake struck.  One pupil was killed by bricks from a falling chimney and other girls had her leg broken when she was climbing over a fence such was the force of the quake.  Old pupils who were at the school when the quake occurred would often burst into tears when looking around the school.  As one ex-pupil said, she thought it was the end of the world.

After the Second World War growth at the school continued and it bulged at the seams.  With the construction of Frimley and Mayfair primary school plus Hastings Intermediate the roll dropped and the school lost their Standard Five and Six pupils.  This in a way changed the character of the school.

However tradition dies hard and Mahora School still holds true to the Motto ‘Piki Haere’ (Keep on Climbing).  To most ex-Mahora pupils ‘Piki Haere’ is synonymous with Mahora.