Tokoroa’s oldest school’s days up
After 105 years Tokoroa’s oldest school has met the wrecking ball sparking anger from those who hoped to see it restored.
Demolition of Tokoroa East Primary School, which opened in 1915 and closed in 2010, is well underway with only its original schoolhouse set to be saved.
It comes after the school, which was constantly targeted by vandals who inflicted significant damage since its closure, was sold to local iwi Raukawa in April 2019 for $332,925 as part of its Crown treaty settlement.
Raukawa Settlement Trust chair Vanessa Eparaima said due to several complaints about the state of the buildings, vermin, and health and safety risks, it was decided to clear the site. But Tokoroa East School Reunion and Restoration member Dylan Blair, who has since relocated to Christchurch, said it’s a devastating blow.
‘‘There was a Heritage New Zealand covenant in place to protect it and I had also put a nomination in to make it a historical place and listed in its register,’’ he said. ‘‘Words can’t describe the horribleness of this mess.’’
Blair said the group’s former treasurer and secretary John Carpenter, a former student who long fought for its restoration before he passed away, would be turning in his grave.
‘‘He attended the school in its early days and he would be devastated,’’ he said. ‘‘The heritage covenant was quite clear but the conditions in it simply weren’t adhered to by the Crown in the first instance and then to have it demolished by an organisation that is all about history and promoting its culture is something you just wouldn’t hear about anywhere else.’’
Eparaima said while she understands the connection many in the community have to the former school, the iwi has big plans for the site so it once again benefits the community.
‘‘While the closure of the school in 2010 markets the end of an era for the site, in the coming months we look forward to announcing a new phase, one that will also bring benefits and opportunity for the people of Tokoroa and the South Waikato,’’ she said.
She said the commercial branch of the iwi, Raukawa Iwi Developments Limited, was considering a range of development options to enhance the main road location and to bring much-needed jobs and business opportunities to the region.
The Ministry of Education closed the school in 2010 when its roll dropped to five but since 2013 it was managed by Land Information New Zealand.
Land and property group manager Stephanie Forrest said since then, up until its sale, it cost taxpayers $282,563 to maintain.
‘‘During our management of the former school grounds we protected the buildings from vandalism by boarding the windows, installing perimeter fencing and conducting regular security patrols. Despite our efforts, we did face ongoing issues with vandals,’’ she said.
Heritage New Zealand has been approached for comment but is yet to respond.