Story: Private education

Matauranga School founding teacher Marie Bell poses for the camera in a dress made by pupils under the supervision of parent Myrla Kernick, in December 1969. Matauranga was set up in Aro Valley, Wellington, in 1963 by parents inspired by the Playcentre philosophy of parent-run preschool education and learning through play. The school initially took children from preschool age to six years (the oldest school starting age). From 1967 it became a full primary school, with parents actively involved in teaching and running the school. By 1970 Matauranga had a full roll of 40 children and a waiting list, and parents in the Hutt Valley, Auckland and Christchurch had either set up or were planning similar schools. Strong teaching was important, and the school closed in 1982 after Marie Bell and then a later teacher, Mike Regan, left.