Aranui High School

Story

Aranui High School was a large secondary school for Years 9-13, in Christchurch, New Zealand. Aranui high school took its name from the suburb of Aranui, meaning 'big pathway' in Māori. Aranui high school was a coeducational alternative to other secondary schools in Eastern Christchurch such as Linwood College and Mairehau High School.Aranui high school was opened in 1960. Despite its name, the school is located in the suburb of Wainoni. As part of government's restructure of Christchurch schools following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the school's closure was announced in 2013. The school closed in December 2016, and will reopen as Haeata Community Campus from a merger with Aranui, Wainoni and Avondale primary schools to form a new year 1-13 campus, to be located at the site of the former Aranui High School.HistoryAranui high school was established in 1960, and quickly grew into one of Christchurch's largest secondary school, with a peak roll of over 1600 students.The school became a key community hub and helped to educate not only local Maori and Pasifika students, but also Pakeha and other ethnicities well beyond the Aranui community limits.During the magnitude 6.3 earthquake on 22 February, the school suffered only moderate damage but was forced to close for nearly a month. As a result of the earthquake the school experienced a significant decline in its school role.In 2013, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced that Aranui High school would be merged with local primary schools, including Wainoni, Aranui and Avondale Primary to form a year 1-13 community campus. Aranui High School closed on 15 December 2016.