to better represent area's history
At the end of this school term, Mercer School will be moving to recognise the schools' new name, Te Paina - which represents the history of the area.
The school was named after Captain Mercer who was a captain in the british army and fought and died in the Waikato land wars at Rangiriri.
Principal Paula Faitala says a huge amount of personal and professional growth was needed to start the journey.
Faitala says she was challenged at the beginning of her role, about four years ago, if she understood the history of the land, to which she answered no.
"We begun to see what was really at the heart of the community and the school, it was the name Te Paina," Faitala says.
Link to article: North Waikato school changes name to better represent area's history | RNZ News
