The Threads of History Essential in the Fabric of a School Community

Every year on August 2, Rangi Ruru Girls’ school celebrates Founders Day, when the school came into being and 2017 is the 128th anniversary of Rangi Ruru opening its doors.

In 1889, there were 18 students, all girls, aged 5-16, and the school was founded by Miss Helen Gibson, after her father, Captain Frederick Gibson, built a large house with two schoolrooms on the corner of Webb Street in Merivale.

It was administered by her and her sisters Mary, Beatrice, Alice, Lucy, Ethel, Ruth and Winifred for nearly 60 years.  

In 1891, the school changed its name from “Miss Gibson’s Private School for Girls” to “Rangi Ruru”, meaning "wide sky-shelter". The name had been suggested by a Māori chief of Rapaki Pa, Paora Taki, a friend of Frederick Gibson.

At the recent special Founders Day Service, Rangi Ruru’s student Head of School, Meg Dutton, and the youngest student, Juliet Park, were given the honour of leading the cake into the school chapel for the service. Current students and direct descendants of the original Gibson Sisters, Olivia and Evie, lit candles during the service.

Principal Dr Sandra Hastie says tradition is important at Rangi Ruru, together with the latest technology and pedagogy within a 21st century campus.

“We are nothing without our past. At Rangi Ruru, where we have come from plays an important part in where we are going. Founders Day is how we honour Miss Helen Gibson and the foresight of the Gibson Sisters from 1889,” she says.

Rangi Ruru History

Rangi Ruru Girls’ School was founded in 1889 by Miss Helen Gibson, after her father, Captain Frederick Gibson, built a large house with two schoolrooms on the corner of Webb Street, and was administered by her and her sisters Mary, Beatrice, Alice, Lucy, Ethel, Ruth and Winifred for nearly 60 years.  

Altogether there were ten brothers and sisters in the Gibson family.

The Gibson sisters all helped in some way with the running of the school, in fact they all continued with their studies to train to become qualified as teachers thus demonstrating the importance of knowledge in leadership.

The name of the school, Rangi Ruru, was suggested by an old Maori Chief of Rapaki Pa, Paora Taki.  It is translated “wide sky shelter” and indicates that the school stands for hospitality and generosity. 

In 1903 the school had 63 pupils.  By the early 1920s the Webb Street house was proving too cramped, and the decision was made to move to larger premises.

In August 1923, the remaining four sisters shifted their school, day pupils and eighteen boarders to Te Koraha – the large house and grounds formerly owned by the Rhodes family. 

Although the Gibson sisters made up the majority of the staff, Helen was also keen to bring in specialist teachers to teach in the areas where they did not have the expertise.  

Helen Gibson’s artistic talents were many – there are many of her wonderful paintings on display in Te Koraha.

Today Rangi Ruru is one of the country’s leading girls’ schools and remains on the same site as was moved to in 1923.