In 2025, the Year 8 Leaders from Te Ahi Kaikōmako Rolleston School worked with Selwyn Libraries’ Heritage and Content team to curate an exhibition of historical items from the School's collection. Through a series of guided workshops, the ākonga (learners) explored their school archives, learned how to interpret and take care of these taonga, and identified some stories about their school that they shared on Selwyn Libraries’ digital heritage site, Kā Kōrero o Waikirikiri Selwyn Stories.

One of the items chosen by the group was then selected to go on display here at Te Ara Ātea. This is the school's oldest register, which contains the names of the first children to attend Rolleston School when it opened in 1893. The ākonga were guided through the process of creating a museum-style exhibition, and each of them played a part in installing the case.

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On display

Rolleston School register of admissions, progress and withdrawal (1926–1968).

On loan from Te Ahi Kaikōmako Rolleston School

Page from Rolleston School register of admissions, progress and withdrawal (1893–1925) (reproduction).

A fragile register from 1893 was chosen by Molly, Emily and Zoe, Year 8 leaders from Te Ahi Kaikōmako Rolleston School, to represent its history as the first school here in Rolleston. As the first of several historic registers for the school, it contains the names of the earliest 594 pupils to pass through its doors. It also holds fascinating information about where they came from, their families, and where they went when they left school. Drawn from the school’s extensive archives, these remarkable registers have survived to show both the age of the school and the richness of its history.

"It is important that we share the register with the community so they can admire it as well as cherish this beautiful artefact for as long as we can keep it."
– Molly Bones, Te Ahi Kaikōmako Rolleston School

Pages from the Rolleston School register 1893-1925, showing the first 35 pupils admitted to the school.

Scan of original document from Te Ahi Kaikōmako Rolleston School collection

“A unique and intriguing artefact from times past, this certificate of merit was awarded to our school from 1971 to 1985 for acknowledgment of our awareness of the environmental issues in our community. We believe this artefact shows how our school has been environmentally aware since its early days as well as giving locals a chance to think about what the school is like nowadays.

The certificate raises questions within the community, prompting members of the public to think about our school in more depth, as well as showing the community how we were environmentally aware from 1971 to 1985. It asks what might our school have done to earn this certificate.

Our school still emphasises care for the environment, especially because the environment is very prominent in society and will draw a lot of attention.”

Canterbury Education Board certificate of merit for school environment, awarded to Rolleston School.

Te Ahi Kaikōmako Rolleston School collection

“We decided to focus on the Rolleston School logos. The school first opened in 1893 and we think the first logo was from the 1970s. We have all the other logos from this time up to now in 2025. The oldest logo is really detailed and shows the train tracks, the train station, and what we think is the Selwyn River - all very important parts of Selwyn's history. The second logo from around 2015 is simpler, with a bold tick and train tracks, showing the importance of Rolleston's railway along with the school's values of the time, represented by colours. Then there's our current logo from 2023, which looks completely different! It does not have the tracks or the river anymore. Instead, it shows a Māori design of the Kaikōmako tree that represents the flame of our school's passion, energy and culture.

Each logo is special and meaningful in its own way, and together they show how our school has grown and changed over time.”

Various versions of the Rolleston School logo.

Te Ahi Kaikōmako Rolleston School collection

“We've chosen this flag because of the significant role it played in our school, and other older schools around New Zealand, inspiring country pride and the bravery of soldiers past. Of course, flags aren't handmade anymore like this one is, but in our hall, every country has a place up on our walls, the old Union Jack flag starting it all. Our government and other organisations such as the Patriotic League gifted flags to schools all around New Zealand, this one being gifted by R. Field in 1915. Together the pride cemented in years past is part of the foundation that makes us Kiwis.

Flags were used to represent us and help tell us who we are as people. It’s very old, faded and hand made with an old fashioned sewing machine, and embroidered by hand. It was made around the same time as the Gallipoli landings. This flag represents our community as a whole facing the rest of the world.”

Union Jack flag presented to Rolleston School by the Rolleston Patriotic Fund in 1915.

Te Ahi Kaikōmako Rolleston School collection

“We picked the Ball and Banquet tickets and programme from 1968 from our archive because we thought it was intriguing how they used to call it a Ball and Banquet instead of a Dinner and Dance, which is what we call it today. We also found it cool to think that something as small as a ticket can tell a story and bring people together.

Our project is for locals, students and people who used to go to Rolleston School. We want to help them remember the 75th Jubilee on 9th November, 1968. We hope that when people see our display, they might think about the Ball and Banquet they went to, or know someone who did. The people in 1968 collected signatures on the programme, which symbolises the bond of people who were there. Now the Year 8s sign their school shirts on the last day.”

Rolleston School Jubilee Banquet and Ball programme and tickets.

Te Ahi Kaikōmako Rolleston School collection