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Perched in the hills around Karioitahi* sits a heritage villa now restored to its former glory.
In 1883, the Auckland Education Board (AEB) erected a single-classroom school consisting of a former Wesleyan chapel relocated from nearby Waiuku. This was built on a three-acre site overlooking the Karioitahi settlement.
In 1886, a teacher’s residence was added to a prominent position beside the school.
Purpose-built housing was considered essential to attract married staff to teach in rural areas and improve ‘the progress of education’.
Despite all this, Katherine Samplonius fell in love with the old schoolhouse and convinced her builder-husband Jody to look at the property.
“I said to my husband, oh, it’s amazing, and it looks really good. And then we’ve gone up again on the Sunday, and he’s like, ‘oh my gosh, it’s, it’s literally falling down the hill and and rotting’.”
Now the home has lovingly been brought back to life with the help of Waiuku building
company, A&W Builders.
“We’ve opened the villa as an Airbnb, allowing us to share her history and charm with others while preserving an important part of Waiuku’s story. It’s got the most amazing views looking back over Waiuku because you’re up high on the hill there, it’s just incredible.”
*Karioitahi is the spelling for the area and the beach, while the spelling Kariaotahi was used for the school which is now a community hall. There have been many variations of these spellings over the years.
