Iona College is a state-integrated girls' school

Girls' School

Girls' School is a single by Wings released in 1977.Written and produced by McCartney, it is the other side of the double A-side with "Mull of Kintyre" and was the band's sole UK number one, spending nine weeks at the top in December 1977 and January 1978. The song was in complete contrast to the...

 in the Hawke's Bay area of New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

's North Island

North Island

The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...

. Founded in 1914 by the Presbyterian Church, it was intended to provide boarding facilities for girls from rural communities. Today, the college has a capped roll of 250 New Zealand and international students – 150 boarders and 100 day girls. Iona is consistently ranked amongst the top schools in New Zealand for academic results.

History

Iona College is the oldest Presbyterian School in New Zealand. It was established as a girls’ boarding school built on land donated by Mr Hugh Campbell.

The Prime Minister, the Right Honourable W F Massey

William Massey

William Ferguson Massey, often known as Bill Massey or "Farmer Bill" served as the 19th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925, and was the founder of the Reform Party. He is widely considered to have been one of the more skilled politicians of his time, and was known for the particular...

, opened Iona College on February 14, 1914.

Iona opened with a roll of 48 pupils who were accommodated in buildings that were habitable but unfinished.

Iona’s buildings were severely affected by the February 1931 earthquake and the College had to be closed for a year while refinancing and rebuilding took place. The opening roll in 1932 was 27 boarders and nine day pupils.

The school chapel is named after Saint Martin

St. Martin (disambiguation)

-People:* Martin of Tours , a saint, Bishop of Tours* Martin of Braga , alias Martin of Dumes, Bishop of Braga in Portugal* Pope Martin I...

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House system

The school has four houses: Columba, Fraser, Gartan and McNeil. Columba and Gartan were the two original houses, with Fraser and McNeil added in 1966 to honour two of the school's former headmistresses, Miss Isabel Fraser and Miss Christina McNeil.

It is a school of great heritage and spirit. The Iona Old Girls Association is commonly known as IOGA.

Iona College's traditional rival is Woodford House. Their brother school is Lindisfarne College

Lindisfarne College, New Zealand

Lindisfarne College was established in Hastings, New Zealand in 1953 by the Herrick Family. The land was gifted by the Herricks and the school begun with a modest roll of 33 students however its roll has rapidly increased and in 2011 has over 500 students currently attending the college. The school...

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Notable alumni

• Anna Duggan - political advisor
  • Sandra Edge - Silver Fern
  • Victoria Kelly - musician

Judy Kirk - former President of New Zealand National Party
Fiona (Jo) McGlashan - chaplain