Te Pakihi o Maru celebrated its 150th anniversary last week.
The anniversary was actually last year, but the school delayed celebrating as a result of Covid.
The school held an assembly on Friday to celebrate and also unveil two taonga carvings donated to it.
The carvings represent both the past of the school and the future, carver Jackson Grey (Waikato Tainui) said.
Over 120 people packed into the school hall for the occasion.
Pupils from the school, formerly known as Oamaru North School, wowed those in attendance with a performance of kapa haka, choir singing and a mau rakau demonstration which is a martial art based on traditional Maori weapons.
The celebration went "better than expected", principal Stacey Honeywell said.
"It was about the kids and they’ve been learning all year about the community and our school."
"It was a real privilege to have our kids do what they did today."
She loved seeing so many people come out to commemorate the occasion.
"It was wonderful to see some ex-students here, some ex-staff and great community support."
They also debuted their new school Waiata written by teacher Eddie Robinson.
It is believed to be the first time in the school’s history it has had a school song.
Representing their past as well as their present in the song was important for the school, she said.
Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher was also in attendance and he planted a kowhai tree to mark the occasion.
