The School Name

The naming of a new school is a serious business. Awatapu was chosen because it was on the site of the ancient lagoon and of an expanding city subdivision. It was an ancient name which celebrated some forgotten event in the history of the tangata whenua, the Rangitane people, whose ancestors had for hundreds of years padded along the bush tracks or splashed up the creek from the river to enjoy the bounty of Awatapu. Unless the name was used it would certainly soon be lost.

[Excerpts from "The First Ten Years 1976-1985" H.J. (Pat) Whitwell]