Pompallier Catholic College
Address
State Highway 14, Maunu, Whangārei, New Zealand
Coordinates35°44′46″S 174°16′35″E / 35.7462°S 174.2764°E / -35.7462; 174.2764
Information
TypeState integrated Secondary (Year 7–13)
MottoDeligere Verum
Love the Truth[1]
Established1971; 52 years ago
Ministry of Education Institution no.17
PrincipalMr Richard Stanton[2]
School roll637[3] (April 2023)
Socio-economic decile7[4]
Websitepompalliercollege.school.nz

Pompallier Catholic College is a Catholic co-educational secondary school located in the suburb of Maunu in Whangārei, New Zealand. It is one of nine secondary schools within the Marist network. Pompallier Catholic College is named after Bishop Jean Baptiste Francois Pompallier who led the first group of Catholic Missionaries from Lyons, France, to New Zealand. The patron saint of the college is John the Baptist. Students of Pompallier Catholic College are colloquially known as Pompallians.

History

Pompallier College is named after Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier who led the first group of Catholic Missionaries to New Zealand, arriving in the Hokianga with Fr Servant and Br Michel a Marist Priest and Brother in 1838. He was the first Catholic Bishop of New Zealand; Bishop Pompallier of the Diocese of Auckland.

The school was founded in 1971 after fund-raising among Northland parishes. It started as a private Boys' Boarding School owned and administered by the Society of Mary. The school became co-educational in 1977, closed the boarding facility in 1981 and in the same year became a state-integrated secondary school owned by the Diocese of Auckland and administered by a board of trustees. An Attached Intermediate was opened in 1995 and Form 1–7 status was achieved in 1997. It is now known as a Year 7–13 state-integrated co-educational secondary school.

Controversy

In August 2012, principal Richard Stanton published an article in the school newsletter which opposed Louisa Wall's Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill, which would legalise same-sex marriage in New Zealand.[5] A staff member was suspended, and later dismissed, for supporting a pro-gay marriage protest the students were having, due to the article written in the newsletter. Some students and parents also protested against the article.[6][7][8]

Abuse

At least one priest who taught at Pompallier College is alleged to have abused children.

  • Father Phil Roberts, Society of Mary priest and former principal of Pompallier College in Whangārei and St Augustine's College, Whanganui, mentioned in the New Zealand Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care hearings in March 2021 as having abused children.[9]

School structure

The school is divided into four houses. The house patrons have been chosen by students on the basis of their connection with Te Tai Tokerau and/or the Colleges Catholic and Marist charism. They are:

Tate Green house. Named after Pa Henare Tate

Aubert Blue house. Named after Sister Suzanne Aubert

Chavoin Yellow house. Named after Jeanne-Marie Chavoin

Colin Red house. Named after Jean-Claude Colin

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ Pompallier website page with the motto Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ "School newsletter 10" (PDF). 3 July 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  3. ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  4. ↑ Decile change 2007 to 2008 for state & state integrated schools
  5. ↑ "Pompalier Catholic College Newsletter - 24 August 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  6. ↑ Dinsdale, Mike (29 August 2012). "Protest over gay comments". The Northern Advocate. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  7. ↑ Gay marriage bill passes first vote Close Up television segment, 29 August 2012, Television New Zealand
  8. ↑ Harper, Paul (21 September 2012). "Students support fired teacher". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Pompallier College principal wants to know why predator priest was sent to school". NZ Herald. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  10. ↑ "Court of Appeal judge Simon France dies". Stuff. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  11. ↑ Winkelmann, Helen (11 April 2023). "Chief Justice pays tribute to Simon France" (PDF). Ngā Kōti o Aotearoa Courts of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 April 2023.


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