Kaingaroa School, a small rural school near Kaitaia caters for students from Year 1 – 8. The School was first established in the Kaingaroa River valley in 1873/74 (although it was known at the time as Mangatete Maori School). Over 130 years later, it is a thriving U3 full primary school with a current roll of 135 students and six classrooms. Kaingaroa is set in rolling farm land on State Highway 10 half way between the beautiful Doubtless Bay on the east coast and Kaitaia near the west coast. The children come predominantly from the Karikari Peninsula and from outside the current school zone. Kaingaroa School is set on a beautiful raised site that is established with lovely gardens and extensive landscaping, well cared for ‘older’ classrooms, more recently built ‘modern’ classrooms and the recently opened multi-purpose hall/gymnasium. It is also well resourced with a large in-ground pool and 100 square metres of shade cloth over the well-equipped playground. Student art is displayed across the property and is a key feature of the physical surrounds.