Turiroa School out for good

A classroom at Turiroa School near Wairoa was taken away to another school last Friday, just two days after tearful Turiroa children finished their lessons in it.

Principal Diane McCallum said the school break-up last Wednesday was an emotional occasion.

"It was pretty heart-wrenching. Some were very, very upset and a couple of the younger ones just had to be taken away."

Turiroa School is merging with Hillneath, on the Hillneath site in Wairoa, under the name of Tiaho, as part of a reorganisation of Wairoa district schools.

Children had their last classes at the 73-year-old North Clyde School last Wednesday, and the teachers will finish up today.

North Clyde children will go to Wairoa Primary School when they begin the new school year.

Raupunga School, between Napier and Wairoa, will merge with Mohaka School at Mohaka, and Opoutama, between Nuhaka and Mahia, will merge with Te Mahia School at Mahia.

Te Reinga School, open for 91 years, will merge with Ruakituri School at Ruakituri.

Tuai and Kokako Schools will combine in a new school to be built at Tuai.

Wairoa College becomes a form one-to-seven school next year, taking intermediate-aged pupils from the town's primary schools.