The Papawai and Kaikōkirikiri Trusts originated with two Crown Grants dated 14 June 1853, formalising the donation by the Māori people of the Wairarapa to Bishop Selwyn of two pieces of land, commonly known as the Bishops Reserve – 395 acres at Papawai and 190 acres [15½ acres of which was taken by the Public Works Act for Railway and Roads] at Kaikōkirikiri, in consideration of the proposed establishment of a school under the superintendence of the Bishop in the Wairarapa. The lands were vested in the Trusts Board incorporated under the Religious, Charitable, and Educational Trusts Act 1908.

The Crown Grants stated that the school was to be established “for the education of children of our subjects of all races and of children of other poor destitute persons being inhabitants of Islands in the Pacific Ocean” and that the land was to be held in trust by Bishop Selwyn and his successors for the use and maintenance of the school “so long as religious education, industrial training and instruction in the English language shall be given therein”.

A boarding school was established at Papawai in 1860 but had to be closed for lack of pupils five years later.

The Anglican Church purchased the Tancred Estate in Clareville to establish a college for Māori boys. Hikurangi College, covering 150 acres, opened in 1903, burnt down in 1932 and was not rebuilt due to lack of resources.

Across the Tararua Ranges, Māori had also made gifts of land at Otaki and Porirua to the church on similar terms. The lands were used for the building and maintenance of the Otaki Māori College until it closed due to lack of funds in 1939.

After much discussion and consultation with Māori concerned in each of the Trusts, Bills were promoted and passed by Parliament entitled the Papawai and Kaikōkirikiri Trusts Act 1943 and the Otaki and Porirua Trusts Act 1943. Both Trusts were originally run by one common Board, later split into two separate Boards.

The Papawai and Kaikōkirikiri Trusts Board is a registered charitable trust created under a Private Act – The Papawai and Kaikōkirikiri Trusts Act 1943. On 15th November 2016 the Trusts Amendment Bill received Royal Assent and the Trust now administers under the Papawai and Kaikokirikiri Trusts Amendment Act 2016. The Charities registration number is CC33280.

 

Logo

The design is representative of the support given by the Trusts to students in search of knowledge.

The two large green and blue waves depict the land and resources of each of the two Trusts; the two small green and blue waves represent students at varying levels of learning; and the black represents the support given by the trustees in order to embrace the objectives of the Trusts.

The logo was designed by past scholarship recipient Joseph Manaena in 2004.

In 2011 the logo was modified and the cross was added to represent the relationship with the Church of England.