Our Story, Our Cultural Narrative

Our school has four large learning studios, two smaller learning studios – one for new entrants and one for performing arts, a satellite studio for Waitaha Special School, a library, a gymnasium, an office area with meeting rooms, a health room, and a staff lounge.

Our school’s internal spaces have all been chosen to reflect the history of the land and people of Rolleston from early Māori occupation through to the early European settlers, and the subsequent stages of growth through to today. Each learning space or studio represents the culture through a direct link to colour and the environment

We chose kikorangi (blue) to represent the significance of the water that has helped in the formation of the Canterbury Plains/Ngā Pākahi Whakatekateka o Waitaha. We have the aquifer beneath us holding water, some evidence of underground streams flowing towards Lake Ellesmere/ Te Waihora. We have water in the water-races which since sometime in the 1880s were developed in the Rolleston area from the Rakaia and Waimakariri River headwater sources right across the driest parts of the plains. It is known that the Waimakariri at one time in the recent past, flowed out into Lake Ellesmere. It is likely that the Rolleston area would have been in its pathway. This would account for the patches of alluvial soil amongst the stonier soils of the district. There is research that says a Māori fort was in this area and those who were there were growing potatoes and turnips must have had access to water.

The lake was much larger before European farmers took up the surrounding land. They opened the Lake regularly to the sea until it was only about two thirds of its previous size to provide more land for farming. When the lake boundary came right up to at least Springston and Lincoln it is feasible that the water level in the surrounding districts, such as Rolleston, would have been higher.

Now we have wells supplying our towns’ water system and irrigation on surrounding farms and we have to treasure it.

We chose kākāriki (green) to represent the plantings which grew in the vicinity of the lake and nearby streams, and rivers such as the Waimakariri and Waikirikiri (Selwyn). These include harakeke/flax, ferns, toetoe and raupo.

We chose kōwhai (yellow) to represent the resilience of our national tree, also believed to have grown in abundance in the Selwyn area.

The colours we chose for our Entrance, Office Area and Library Space -
 We chose whero (red) to represent Papatūānuku, the important ancestor of Māori mythology who is sometimes translated as the Earth Mother. Whero represents the land/whenua which sustains us.

During the time of moahunters it is understood that fire, fanned by the NorWest Wind (Te Mauru) swept across the Canterbury Plains and burnt much of the forest cover. In more recent times in this vicinity there was fire danger from the Railway and on one occasion it swept across the dry paddocks as far as Dynes Rd and the students from Lincoln University were hastily summoned to beat it out.

All that we have learned about the past resonates with our values and the importance of sustainable environments, respect and care, culture, diversity, inclusion and whānau, family and the community as we look to provide a future focused education for our learners.