Māpuna for Saturday 17 September 2022

Dame Georgina Kingi, principal of St Joseph's Maori Girls College

Today Mapuna features St Joseph's Maori Girls College in the Hawkes Bay which is the subject of a comprehensive new book by Malcolm Mulholland. But no story about St Joseph's can be told without mentioning its current principal, Dame Georgina Kingi. She was a student at St Joseph's in the early 1960s and first became principal in the late 1980s. She upholds a tradition dating back to 1867 when the school was founded by French Catholic nuns. Dame Whina Cooper was a student and more recently the likes of Dame Hinewehi Mohi and Moana Maniapoto. Julian Wilcox attended the launch of Malcolm Mulholland's book and afterwards it was kanohi ki te kanohi with Dame Georgina Kingi in the St Joseph's chapel.

Georgina Kingi, long-serving principal of St Joseph's Maori Girls' College in Napier. Photo: SUPPLIED

Research on St Joseph's unearths diaries dating back to 1901

The launch of Malcolm Mulholland's book was held in St Joseph's school hall with students performing several waiata. A tribute was also paid to 90-year old Sister Sarah Greenlees who helped uncover archival material for the book.  

Photo: St Joseph's students performing waiata