History

The stars are the high points on the ridge of Mount Te Aroha.  The ships are the shallow-bottomed scows that brought the early settlers to this district up the Waihou River.  The crest is superimposed over a blue background

“A Purpose Joyful, A Courage Blameless” reflects life’s exciting possibilities and the importance of courage – physical, spiritual, and moral – to fulfill these.

In 1907, the first secondary schooling instruction occurred in Te Aroha with the establishment of a Standard 7 (now Year 9) class at Te Aroha School. The following year, an official secondary department at Te Aroha School was established. The first teacher in the secondary department taught Latin, French, English, Botany, Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry to all students.

In 1955 the current college site was purchased. Mr. Norman Blakey was appointed the first Principal in 1956, with the name of Te Aroha College being approved in 1957. The “college” existed at the Primary School site for that year while buildings for the new college progressed at Stanley Avenue. The College began operations at the current site on 5th February 1958 with 285 students, housed in the current A, B, E, and F blocks. In 1959, the roll had increased to 330, similar to current roll numbers. The pool “arrived” via community fundraising in 1960, D block was added in 1962 and the gym was added in 1966. C block, completed in 1970 and the pavilion in 1983 completed the current college’s buildings. The year 1972 saw a record roll number of 653, with a third form (Year 9) intake of 200, comprising exactly 100 boys and 100 girls. Since then, Te Aroha College has been reflective of a changing town, and with organisations such as the Hauraki Catchment Board, Thames Valley Electric Power Board, Inland Revenue Department, Thames Valley Drainage Board, and Bendon finishing their existence in Te Aroha, and with increasing farm size, further diminishing job opportunities, the roll has decreased to a relatively stable 340 or so students.

Te Aroha College is a rural school in the Waikato which is in the Upper North Island where the weather is a little warmer. 

The College is located in the beautiful town of Te Aroha which has a population of 4,000 people and sits under the majestic Mount Te Aroha. 

The name Te Aroha comes from the Māori name of Mount Te Aroha. In one version, Rāhiri, the eponymous ancestor of Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu, climbed the mountain, saw his homeland in the distance, and felt a sense of love (aroha) for it. The name is often rendered in English as "place of love". 

Te Aroha highlights: