Community hub
Recent from talks
Contribute something to knowledge base
Content stats: 0 posts, 0 articles, 0 media, 0 notes
Members stats: 0 subscribers, 0 contributors, 0 moderators, 0 supporters
Subscribers
Supporters
Contributors
Moderators
Hub AI
Awatapu College AI simulator
(@Awatapu College_simulator)
Hub AI
Awatapu College AI simulator
(@Awatapu College_simulator)
Awatapu College
Awatapu College is a state co-educational secondary school in Awapuni, Palmerston North, New Zealand. It was opened in 1976, and as of October 2025 it has 828 students.
Awatapu College opened on 2 February 1976 as Palmerston North's fifth state secondary school, with an initial intake of 244 Form 3 (now Year 9) students. The school added year levels annually as the 1976 Form 3 cohort moved through, opening to all year levels in February 1980. The school was officially opened on 1 December 1976 by Prime Minister Robert Muldoon.
The area known as "Awatapu" started off as an Oxbow lake on the Manawatū River. It later became a lagoon that provided food and shelter to the local Māori of Rangitāne. It also provided food for a variety of birds, pests and eels. The name "Awatapu" was chosen because the school is located on the site of an ancient lagoon. A book about the school's first ten years said: "It was an ancient name which celebrated a forgotten event in the history of the tangata whenua – the Rangitāne people, whose ancestors had for many centuries padded along the bush tracks or splashed up the creek from the river to enjoy the bounty of Awatapu. Unless the name was used it would certainly soon be lost".
Like most New Zealand state secondary schools of the 1970s, Awatapu College was built to the S68 standard plan, characterised by single-storey classroom blocks with concrete block walls, low-pitched roofs, and internal open courtyards. At the time of opening, the only permanent building complete was the first general classroom block (100 block). The arts and crafts block (200 block) opened in May, followed by a half gymnasium in July, and the administration block in September. Major extensions were a second general classroom block (300 block) and the standalone library in 1978, the gymnasium extended to full size in 1979, the senior studies block (600 block) in 1980, and the auditorium in 1986.
The original 1976 uniform had a chocolate brown and gold colour scheme. Founding principal John Wall had issues selecting school colours that were not in use by other local schools, so the outfitters suggested the colours based on the brown suit and gold waistcoat Wall was wearing at the time. The uniform's distinctive appearance led to the informal nickname "Pineapple Lumps" or "Bumblebees" among students and the wider Palmerston North community.
In 1995, Awatapu College introduced a black and gold uniform, replacing the previous colours, aligning with a more contemporary and neutral aesthetic. The black and gold uniform remains in use today.
As of October 2025, Awatapu College has a roll of 828 students, of which 263 (31.8%) identify as Māori.
As of 2026, the school has an Equity Index of 492, placing it amongst schools whose students have above average socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to decile 4 under the former socio-economic decile system).
Awatapu College
Awatapu College is a state co-educational secondary school in Awapuni, Palmerston North, New Zealand. It was opened in 1976, and as of October 2025 it has 828 students.
Awatapu College opened on 2 February 1976 as Palmerston North's fifth state secondary school, with an initial intake of 244 Form 3 (now Year 9) students. The school added year levels annually as the 1976 Form 3 cohort moved through, opening to all year levels in February 1980. The school was officially opened on 1 December 1976 by Prime Minister Robert Muldoon.
The area known as "Awatapu" started off as an Oxbow lake on the Manawatū River. It later became a lagoon that provided food and shelter to the local Māori of Rangitāne. It also provided food for a variety of birds, pests and eels. The name "Awatapu" was chosen because the school is located on the site of an ancient lagoon. A book about the school's first ten years said: "It was an ancient name which celebrated a forgotten event in the history of the tangata whenua – the Rangitāne people, whose ancestors had for many centuries padded along the bush tracks or splashed up the creek from the river to enjoy the bounty of Awatapu. Unless the name was used it would certainly soon be lost".
Like most New Zealand state secondary schools of the 1970s, Awatapu College was built to the S68 standard plan, characterised by single-storey classroom blocks with concrete block walls, low-pitched roofs, and internal open courtyards. At the time of opening, the only permanent building complete was the first general classroom block (100 block). The arts and crafts block (200 block) opened in May, followed by a half gymnasium in July, and the administration block in September. Major extensions were a second general classroom block (300 block) and the standalone library in 1978, the gymnasium extended to full size in 1979, the senior studies block (600 block) in 1980, and the auditorium in 1986.
The original 1976 uniform had a chocolate brown and gold colour scheme. Founding principal John Wall had issues selecting school colours that were not in use by other local schools, so the outfitters suggested the colours based on the brown suit and gold waistcoat Wall was wearing at the time. The uniform's distinctive appearance led to the informal nickname "Pineapple Lumps" or "Bumblebees" among students and the wider Palmerston North community.
In 1995, Awatapu College introduced a black and gold uniform, replacing the previous colours, aligning with a more contemporary and neutral aesthetic. The black and gold uniform remains in use today.
As of October 2025, Awatapu College has a roll of 828 students, of which 263 (31.8%) identify as Māori.
As of 2026, the school has an Equity Index of 492, placing it amongst schools whose students have above average socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to decile 4 under the former socio-economic decile system).