He Timatanga Hou tenei mo to tatou kura, Hato Hohepa - A New Beginning


St Joseph's school was founded in 1891 by the sisters of St Joseph's and the Mill Hill brothers.  The Josephite sisters were very important in founding and running schools throughout New Zealand and Australia, especially for the rural and the poor.  The founder of the Josephite order, Mary MacKillop was the first australasian saint, who was canonised (made a saint) in 2010.  Of significance ar the two visits that Saint Mary of the Cross (Mary MacKillop) made to St Joseph's Matata (1894 and 1902).  It is our aim to ensure that Saint Mary of the Cross and The Order of the Josephites and the role of the Mill Hill brothers, is firmly entrenched in the daily practices and teachins of the school.

We are a decile 2F integrated primary school for boys and girls from Year 1-Year8 offering education with a Catholic character, nestled in the heart of Matata.