Tawa College

Tawa College, October 1965.

Tawa College opened in February 1961.

At the September 2012 Education Review Office (ERO) review, Tawa College had 1417 students enrolled, including nine international students. Forty-six percent of students were male and 54 percent were female. Fifty-seven percent of students identified as New Zealand European (Pākehā), 16 percent identified as Māori, 14 percent as Asian, 12 percent as Pacific Islanders, and one percent as another ethnicity.[2]

Tawa College currently has 11 classroom blocks: A Block, B Block, C Block, D Block, E Block, F Block, G Block, H Block, J Block, K Block and S Block.

Like many New Zealand secondary schools of the era, the school was constructed to the Nelson Two-Storey standard plan, distinguished by its two-storey H-shaped classroom blocks.[3] Tawa College has three of these blocks: B block, C block, and D block.

A Block is the foods, dance, woodwork and art block. B Block is home to social studies classes as well as: psychology, history, geography, science and more. C Block is home to english, science, computer labs and more. D Block's classrooms includes: English, maths, maths offices, science and more. E Block is the language block with Japanese, Maori and french. F Block is the drama block with a miniature theatre which was recently revamped with the help from Nick Brown, HOD of Drama and Dance. G Block is a one story block which spans around the netball and basketball courts with all sorts of classrooms. H Block is the music block with: three studios, two music classrooms, a music office, a big music space, the school hall. J Block is the science block with two science classrooms. K Block is the retired kindergarten recently purchased by Tawa College and is currently used if there are no available classrooms. S Block is the special learning block for people with special learning needs.

The traditional colours of Tawa College are blue, red and yellow, as seen in the school uniform, sports strips and crest. The uniform skirt for the girls is a kilt made of Duncan tartan. The college has special permission from the Scottish clan, to whom the tartan belongs (as intellectual property), to use the tartan in its uniform.

The Tawa Recreation Centre (informally known as "the rec centre") is a joint venture between Tawa College and the Wellington City Council. The facility contains two gymnasiums, two sets of male and female changing rooms, a large foyer area, P.E equipment sheds, a Wellington City Council Office and reception area, P.E department offices, and a classroom on the mezzanine.

The school is well known for its achievements in the arts, notably singing, including several national and international barbershop quartet and chorus champions, such as the Musical Island Boys (national barbershop champions, 2004; international collegiate quartet champions, 2006; Barbershop Harmony Society International Quartet Champions, 2014).

They also have a big reputation due to their wrestling team, TCW, who have been twice national champions.

In 2009, the principal, Mr Lucas, and approximately 38 year 13 chemistry students beat the Guinness world record for the most hours of consecutive teaching with their 28-hour chemistry teach-a-thon. This was put together as a fundraiser for World Vision, and through it they raised over $3,000.[4]

Notable alumni include:

• Jerry Collins – All Blacks captain
• Sophie Devine – Women's Black Cap
• Taito Phillip Field – former Member of Parliament[5]
• Mark Gillespie – Black Cap
• Blair Hilton – national field hockey representative and 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist
• Elizabeth Knox - New Zealand writer
• Nick Leggett – fourth Mayor of Porirua
• Murray Mexted – rugby union commentator, former All Black
• Kerry Prendergast – former Mayor of Wellington
• Lee Tamahori – film director
• Louis Fenton – member of Wellington Phoenix Football Club, All Whites
• Amelia Kerr – international cricketer, granddaughter of Bruce Murray
• Tony Backhouse - musician and composer

Groups

• Musical Island Boys, 2014 Barbershop Harmony Society International Quartet Champions

• 1961–66 – Alan Mackie
• 1966–81 – Eric Flaws
• 1981–89 – Brian Walker
• 1989–2002 – Bruce Murray
• 2002–present – Murray Lucas

• Tawa College Website
• Education Review Office (ERO) reports for Tawa College