The Swannanoa Country Fair is a major fundraising initiative to help support Te Koromiko Swannanoa School.
Originally starting out as a humble boot sale in 1998, this family-friendly community event now attracts thousands of people from all over the South Island and is one of the most popular and fun days in the regional event calendar.
There is a huge range of quality craft and trade stalls, school plant stall, a massive white elephant sale, plenty of games and rides for the children, delicious food and refreshments as well as all day entertainment, providing a great day out with your family and friends.
The entire fair effort is put together by the school and its local community, with all profits given back into the schools nominated projects.
With the help of our fair sponsors and the school community, our annual Country Fair has raised thousands of dollars for the school over its 20 year history. As a decile ten school we get very little funding from the Government and rely on fundraising efforts to maintain and upgrade our school facilities.The money raised contributes to Teacher aides, computer leasing and purchasing of other items for the school, assisting the School to optimise student learning and development.
About Te Koromiko Swannanoa School
Te Koromiko Swannanoa School is a semi-rural full primary school situated in the Waimakariri district of the North Canterbury region catering for approximately 340 students from Year 1-8. We are around 25km from central city Christchurch.
We are a school that prides itself on having a beautiful rural setting supported by rural values. Our children are happy, busy, active learners who are highly engaged and motivated. The school enjoys a supportive community and is recognised for its innovative, exciting and progressive learning environment.
Te Koromiko was gifted to us by Ngai Tuahuriri in 2022 and is a tribute to the long leaf hebe that once thrived in the area. This versatile plant was cherished for its medicinal properties and even played a role in the times of moa.
And let's not forget John Evans 'Yankee' Brown, who dubbed our neck of the woods Swannanoa, a nod to his homeland in Pennsylvania. Swannanoa is a North American name meaning, “meeting place, or appellation of two mountain ranges”.
“... so little of the Swannanoa School is the building itself; it has always been made up of people with a common aim; to teach and to learn. Methods of teaching have changed greatly in the last hundred years but the goal is always the same ...”
“... to educate the children of Swannanoa, so that they may grow up with a love for learning and a delight in working together”.
— Extract 1971 Centennial book, “Swannanoa School 100 years” compiled by Mr C.M. Harman, edited by Miss P. Rogers.