
This thesis examines the closing of Aranui High School in 2016, a low socio-economic secondary school in eastern Christchurch, New Zealand, and reflects on its history through the major themes of innovation and the impact of central government intervention. The history is explored through the leadership of the school principals, and the necessity for constant adaptation by staff to new ways of teaching and learning, driven by the need to accommodate a more varied student population – academically, behaviourally and culturally – than most other schools in wider Christchurch. Several extreme changes, following a neoliberal approach to education policies at a national government level, impacted severely on the school’s ability to thrive and even survive over the 57 years of its existence, with the final impact of the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes leading indirectly to Aranui High’s closure. The earthquakes provided the National government with the impetus to advocate for change to education in Christchurch; changes which impacted negatively on many schools in Christchurch, including Aranui High School. The announcement of the closure of Aranui High shocked many staff and students, who were devastated that the school would no longer exist. Aranui High School, Aranui Primary School, Wainoni Primary School and Avondale Primary School were all closed to make way for Haeata Community Campus, a year 1 to 13 school, which was built on the Aranui High site. Aranui High School served the communities of eastern Christchurch for 57 years from 1960 and deserves acknowledgment and remembrance, and my hope is that this thesis will provide a fair representation of the school’s story, including its successes and challenges, while also explaining the reasons behind the eventual closure. This thesis contributes to New Zealand public history and uses mixed research methods to examine Aranui High School’s role as a secondary school in eastern Christchurch. I argue that the closure of Aranui High School in 2016 was an unjustified act by the Ministry of Education.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Proof that one can make a difference. Beth Price (year 7, age 12), a pupil from Hadlow School in Masterton was the instigator and driver for a fundraiser effort for Christchurch's Belfast School to the tune of over $2000 after seeing the damage caused by Christchurch's September 4th earthquake. Beth Price in her school uniform at Belfast School".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Proof that one can make a difference. Beth Price (year 7, age 12), a pupil from Hadlow School in Masterton was the instigator and driver for a fundraiser effort for Christchurch's Belfast School to the tune of over $2000, after seeing the damage caused by Christchurch's September 4th earthquake. Beth Price in her school uniform at Belfast School".
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Proof that one can make a difference. Beth Price (year 7, age 12), a pupil from Hadlow School in Masterton was the instigator and driver for a fundraiser effort for Christchurch's Belfast School to the tune of over $2000 after seeing the damage caused by Christchurch's September 4th earthquake. Beth Price in her school uniform at Belfast School".
A photograph of Marie Hudson showing students at Oaklands Primary School how to break up large pieces of china.Crack'd for Christchurch comments, "Marie Hudson giving a mosaicking workshop at Oaklands School."
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The Design and Arts College at 116 Worcester Street".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Christ's College, Rolleston Avenue".
A tree stump at Halswell School.
An aerial photograph of Burwood School.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Hannah Anderson (7) and Jordan Young (8) from Banks Avenue School in Dallington. First day back to school after 'quake-break'".
Students at Christchurch's Shirley Boys High School were upbeat about their return today to their old school, for the first time since the February earthquake.
Christchurch schools will lose the equivalent of 167 teaching jobs next year as the government removes support for schools that lost pupils after February's earthquake.
Photograph captioned by Fairfax, "Jordan Young (8) and Matthew Rogers (11) from Banks Avenue School in Dallington. First day back to school after 'quake-break'".
A photograph of students, staff and other community members at the lauch of the AWA Trails at St James School. In the photograph are St James School pupils, All Right? 'All Righties' mascots (back), Burwood-Pegasus Community Board member Tim Baker (centre-right) and other St James School community members. The photograph was taken at the launch of the St James AWA trail at St James School.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Students tossing a ball at Avonside Girls High School".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Is this digger training school? St Margaret's College, Winchester Street".
Heart-shaped notes on the fence of Burwood Primary School. The notes express appreciation for the efforts of the civil defence, fire service, volunteers and council workers from the students of Burwood Primary.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Here we can see why Redcliffs School is still closed".
A video about the experiences of students from Spreydon School in the year following the 4 September 2010 earthquake. This video is part of The Press's 'One Year On: September 4, 2010' series.
Prefab buildings in the quad of Christ College, hired to replace damaged classrooms that are unsafe to enter.
Prefab buildings in the quad of Christ College, hired to replace damaged classrooms that are unsafe to enter.
A typical "sand volcano" caused by liquefaction where the soil loses its strength during the earthquake and the silt rises upwards, ejecting out of a hole like magma in a volcano.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "69 Worcester Street. Languages International Building".
A sand volcano in the Halswell Primary School grounds. Sand volcanoes were caused by liquefaction where the soil loses its strength during the earthquake and the silt rises upwards, ejecting out of a hole like magma in a volcano.
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Is this digger training school? St Margaret's College, Winchester Street".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Avonside Girls High School".
Cracking along the pavement at Halswell Primary School. The ground has risen and fallen in places leaving an uneven surface where the children usually play.
A graphic giving the status of Woolston School.
A graphic giving the status of Richmond School.
A graphic giving the status of Greenpark School.