Waitangi Day this year got retired Masterton school principal Noel Preston to thinking about its significance - not just for what it is as our national day but for a group of people he had a lot of dealing with many years back.
Mr Preston was the foundation deputy principal at Makora College (now Makoura College) which opened its doors for the first time on February 6, 1968.
"Makora opened its doors and held its very first assembly.
"In those days Waitangi Day wasn't a public holiday and this was just the first day of the school year.
"Unlike the sham summer we are having this year, 1968 was hotter and drier than usual so the 139 pupils - who were of course all third formers - together with 11 staff and a few board members all sweltered in the heat.