Oranga Tamariki holds records about Levin Boys' Training Centre from 1955-1965 and about Kohitere Boys' Training Centre from 1961-1990. Oranga Tamariki should also hold personal records on young people who stayed at the institution and whom the Department of Social Welfare had involvement with. Archives NZ (Wellington) holds records about Levin Boys Training Centre from 1964-1980, with Oranga Tamariki as the controlling agency for restricted records. Oranga Tamariki hold no institutional records for/ under Weraroa Boys Training Farm
Gender and age: Male 14-17 age group. It became co-educational in late 1988.
Capacity: In the 1950's, 55 Around 1970, 111 beds Around 1984, 90 beds plus 12 secure beds As at 4/10/1989, 28 beds
Controlling organisations: Government, Child Welfare Division, Education Department, Department of Social Welfare. State control.
Operational period: 1905- September 1990. Note: this date applies to all 3 (Kohitere Boys Training Centre, Boys Training Centre, and Weraroa Training Farm).
Other information: Originally opened as Weraroa Training Farm in 1905 and also known as Levin Boys Training Centre. The junior section of the training centre was sited at Hokio Beach.
In 1936, a State investigation found that physical discipline at Weraroa State Farm was excessively violent.
Kohitere had an onsite farm, workshop and forestry block where children and young people worked.
Boys transferred to Kohitere from from Hokio School (Hokio Beach School) which was 9kms away.
Note: in the 1970s and 1980s, the Department of Social Welfare also ran an outdoor camp, Camp Peek, near Levin which took a group of 16 boys at a time from Kohitere for a six week outdoor recreation programme.
Find out how to request Archives New Zealand records.
Some files about the policy, administration and buildings and a few files including information about children are held at Archives NZ (found by searching under institution name. For example, Aperture Card - Education Department (Child Welfare), Boys Training Centre, Kohitere, Levin
Multiple files about the administration of Levin Boys Training Centre are held at Archives New Zealand, including teachers (staffing and appointments), building and site files, some annual reports, and others. Search on 'levin boys training centre'
Information provided by Oranga Tamariki to the Crown Response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry on 14 March 2024
Whanaketia - Final Report of the Abuse in Care Inquiry, Part 3, Chapter 6, para 441 on Camp Peek
Whanaketia - Final Report of the Abuse in Care Inquiry, Case studies, Cauldron of Violence: Hokio Beach School and Kohitere Boys' Training Centre
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