Westmere, Manawatū-Whanganui facts for kids

Westmere is a small community in New Zealand. It is located in the Whanganui District. This area is part of the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Westmere is also known for its beautiful lake. It is on the North Island of New Zealand.

Some famous people have lived in Westmere. These include Dr Brierley Emmett, a children's doctor from Wellington. Also, Liam Wooding, a talented concert pianist, once lived here.

Westmere's History

Westmere started as a community in the late 1800s. A school was opened here in 1894. It was built close to the lake. Many local families helped to build the school. They even used horses and carts to bring soil for the school grounds.

The Laird family has a long history with the school. Seven generations of their family have been involved. Alex Laird helped to start the school. Emma Laird was one of its first teachers.

Education at Westmere

Westmere School is a primary school for children. It teaches students from Year 1 to Year 8. Boys and girls both attend this school. As of February 2024, there are 218 students.

Between 1994 and 2006, the school got many updates. Bill Greening was the principal during this time. Two new adventure playgrounds were built. The school's board and parent group helped raise money. They collected about $30,000 each year. This money helped pay for all the improvements.