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What does Ō Tahuti Mai mean?
"Tahuti Mai" is another Māori phrase similar to "nau mai which translates to mean "welcome." This is a fitting name as Ponsonby welcomes all walks of life.
The Story of Ponsonby Intermediate
The Story of Ponsonby Intermediate
Ponsonby Intermediate School officially opened its doors in 1976 — but its story began long before then.
After years of passionate lobbying from the local community, the Education Department finally gave the green light. The result? A bold, open-plan school designed for collaborative teaching and creative learning. On day one, 400 students from diverse backgrounds, mainly Māori and Pasifika, filled the classrooms. It was a new kind of school, built for a new generation of ākonga.
But the land beneath Ponsonby Intermediate has its own remarkable history.
Long before the school was built, the site was home to busy brickworks and pottery kilns. In 1947, it transformed into a bustling hub for local sports, becoming the training ground for the Ponsonby Rugby and League Clubs. By the 1960s, squash courts echoed with rallies, and the old drill hall — standing proudly since 1906 — was alive with the shouts of cadets learning leadership, navigation, abseiling, and target practice. Below the hall, a post-WWII bomb shelter was even converted into a rifle range.
The drill hall itself holds powerful memories. It was a mustering station during both World Wars — the last stop for soldiers before marching down College Hill to the troop ships that would carry them overseas. During World War II, American servicemen were also stationed there, adding another chapter to the site’s rich military legacy.
By 1973, the Auckland Education Board reclaimed the grounds to make way for the school. The League Club moved to Victoria Park, and the Rugby Club eventually settled at Western Springs in 1997. The cadets remained until 1999, when the historic drill hall was finally demolished to make way for modern apartments.
Today, Ponsonby Intermediate stands on this deeply layered land — a place of learning, sport, service, and transformation. And every student who walks through its gates becomes part of that ongoing story.
Carder Bros Works- Demolished 1930. On the site of Ponsonby Intermediate School- source: digitalnz.org
Okā (Point Erin) and the Legendary Taniwha and Guardian
Okā (also called Te Koraenga, which means "the headland") is a very old pā, or fortified village. A long time ago, people used it as a base for summer fishing in the upper Waitematā Harbour, which was famous for shark fishing.
There is a legend about a taniwha, named Ureia. He was the guardian of the Hauraki people. Ureia swam around the Hauraki Gulf and often came to Point Erin. He liked to rub his back on the cliffs and reef there!
How did Ponsonby- Te Rimu Tahi get it's name?
Te Rimu Tahi
The name Te Rimu Tahi means “the lone Rimu tree.” It refers to a very old and special Rimu tree that once stood at the corner of Ponsonby Road and Karangahape Road—right where a new public space has been built.
This name was a special gift from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the local Māori iwi (tribe). They gave the name to the Ponsonby ridgeline and the new civic space to honour the area's Māori history.
A long time ago, this area was part of a traditional Māori walking track, and the name helps us remember the important stories, people, and places that came before.
Now, even though the tree is gone, the name Te Rimu Tahi keeps its memory alive and helps connect the past with the present.
Ponsonby
Believe it or not, the stylish Auckland suburb of Ponsonby used to go by a much less exciting name—Dedwood. The name came from a local farm on Shelly Beach Road, and by the mid-1800s, it was used for the area around what’s now the Three Lamps intersection.
But by the 1870s, locals decided it was time for a change. They felt "Dedwood" sounded outdated and didn’t reflect the direction the neighbourhood was heading. So, in 1873, they petitioned the government to rename it Ponsonby, borrowing the name from Ponsonby Road, which had already appeared on maps as early as the 1850s.
Who Was Ponsonby?
Who Was Ponsonby?
The exact inspiration behind the name isn’t 100% confirmed, but historians have a few likely candidates—all from the well-known Ponsonby family. Here are some possibilities:
Ponsonby Peacocke – A member of New Zealand’s Legislative Council who lived on Ponsonby Road in the 1860s.
Major-General Sir William Ponsonby – A British cavalry commander who was killed at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Major-General Sir Frederick Ponsonby – Another military leader from the Napoleonic Wars and former Governor of Malta. He was the father of...
Major-General Sir Henry Ponsonby, who served as Queen Victoria’s private secretary from 1870 to 1895.
Whichever Ponsonby it was, the name gave the area a boost in status and helped shape its identity.
So next time you're walking through Ponsonby, surrounded by cafés, shops, and history, just remember: this neighbourhood has come a long way from its Dedwood days.
Tamariki playing in Ponsonby, Auckland, in 1971- Photo by Marti Friedlander
In the 1950s and 60s, many Māori and Pacific Island families moved to cities like Auckland for work and new opportunities. Ponsonby became a place where many families settled, because it had more affordable homes to rent.
At that time, most other parts of Auckland were mainly lived in by Pākehā (European New Zealanders).
Around the time that Ponsonby Intermediate School opened and throughout the 1970s, a group known as the Ponsonby Panthers, made up of Māori and Pacific youth, formed to support their communities and stand up to unfair treatment.
Over time, Ponsonby changed a lot. Wealthier people moved in, houses were renovated, and the area became more expensive. Many Māori and Pacific families moved out of the area.
Photo: Protest against racial discrimination and oppression towards Pacific people.
At first, it might seem like Pacific and Maori people left the newly improved city areas simply because they couldn't afford to live there anymore. But in reality, discrimination also played a big role in pushing them out of central suburbs like Ponsonby.
One clear example of this was the Dawn Raids, which were a very direct and obvious form of discrimination. These raids began in 1974 and were first aimed at Tongan overstayers. However, by 1975 and 1976, they had spread to include people from the wider Pacific community, especially in areas like Ponsonby and other parts of Auckland.
In response, many people – both from the Pacific community and beyond – came together to protest against this unfair treatment. These resistance movements showed strong opposition to what was happening and helped bring attention to the injustice.
School Waiata
Aue, nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai ki Te Kura
Takawaenga o Te Rimu Tahi e
He kura harikoa
He kura Motuhake
He kura whai koha ki nga
Tangata katoa
Aue, nau mai
Haere, haere mai
Aue, nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai ki Te Kura
Takawaenga o Te Rimu Tahi e
He kura harikoa
He kura Motuhake (Ara hi aue aue)
(hi) (hi) (hiha) (hi)
He kura whai koha ki nga
(hi) (hiha)
Tangata katoa
Aue, nau mai
Haere, haere mai
References:
Carlyon, J., & Morrow, D., Urban Village; The Story of Ponsonby, Freemans Bay and St Mary's Bay, Random House New Zealand, 2008.
Photo - 'Playing on the Street' Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki - Photo by Marti Friedlander
Photo- 'Protest against racial discrimination and oppression towards Pacific people' by John Miller
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