History

The District High School was opened in 1910 on the current site.  In 1954 the name was changed to Wairoa College.  Wairoa college is a co-educational secondary school which was expanded in 2005 to include students from Year 7 and 8.

Te Aka Matua wharenui story.

The name of Wairoa College wharenui is called Te Aka Matua, meaning the main vine. Te Aka Matua wharenui and the whare kai, Emarina, opened on Thursday 5th April 2001.

The whare kai, Emarina, was named after Mrs Emarina (Lena) Manuel who was a long-serving member on the Wairoa College board and also spent a lifetime dedicated to helping with the Education of many Wairoa youth.