Oranga Tamariki has some records about Beck House from 1977-2005. Oranga Tamariki should also hold personal records on young people who stayed at Beck House and whom Department of Social Welfare (DSW) had involvement with.
This page contains information from documents written many years ago reflecting language and terms that are not acceptable today. For example, some of the original names of institutions are offensive and derogatory.
We have some suggestions on what help and support is available if you want someone to talk to, or support during your journey.
Gender: boys Age group: 9-12 years Capacity: 24 A home and boarding school for boys 'who are very disturbed and have serious emotional difficulties'. Previously the France House Boys' Home operated by the Hawkes Bay Children's Homes Trust. Controlling organisation: Government, Department of Social Welfare; State control From The Road to Hell: "Sited 15 kilometres north of Napier, the property had several classrooms, a workroom for cooking and crafts, and 46 acres of land. It accommodated 24 boys, aged nine to thirteen years, for an average of two years. Most (90% or more) residents were Pākehā boys who had been placed under State guardianship. The Department viewed them as being 'very disturbed', 'socially maladjusted', or with 'serious emotional difficulties' that made them unsuitable for both foster homes and other institutions. From 1993 Hawke's Bay Today article: after Beck House was closed, it "was later taken over by the Napier Cadet Academy to give military style training to boys sent by courts. It [was] owned by the Napier Cadet Academy Trust..." From Knowledge Bank (Hawke's Bay digital Archives Trust): in November 1989, the house was sold to Napier Cadet Academy Trust as a base for its military-style training programme for 'young at-risk teenagers'. In 1994 they sold it into private ownership.
You must enable JavaScript to submit this form