1945 - Growth
In 1945, NZ Forest Service were the first employer in the forestry industry to employ labour locally and abroad. Kaingaroa had developed and would act as a 'pilot' for the newer, bigger forestry towns like Tokoroa that would soon be developed. During this time, the employment scheme that had been used to provide labour in Kaingaroa had been adopted by Tokoroa. Through this, hundreds of people from The United Kingdom, and the Pacific Islands, predominantly The Cook Islands (Chapple, 1976).
During this period, the town saw rapid growth with the arrival of more families into Tokoroa. Some of these families were transient, and chased industrial jobs around the North Island, and the Central North Island region was becoming more enticing as the development of Forestry, and Hydro-power in Mangakino, job opportunities within the area became plentiful.
By the end of 1953, the school was catering for 800 students, with more prefabricated classrooms being brought in and more land being given to the school. The second and third rooms that were built earlier were removed to make-way for newer classrooms. There was even a time where there were so many students that the school hired a marquee from Hopuhopu military camp to be used as a classroom.
In 1954 the second school in Tokoroa opened and was named Tokoroa Central School. Tokoroa School then became Tokoroa East School. Tokoroa Central School took 400 of the 800 students, bringing the roll of Tokoroa East School down to more reasonable numbers that the school could cater for (Lory, 1977).
Construction began around this time on Kinleith and a plant in Kawerau. These two processing plants were set to be the giant plants that would cater for the overflow of trees that needed processing in the following years.
Photo: Staff of 1952 - during the period of growth in Tokoroa.
During this period, the town saw rapid growth with the arrival of more families into Tokoroa. Some of these families were transient, and chased industrial jobs around the North Island, and the Central North Island region was becoming more enticing as the development of Forestry, and Hydro-power in Mangakino, job opportunities within the area became plentiful.
By the end of 1953, the school was catering for 800 students, with more prefabricated classrooms being brought in and more land being given to the school. The second and third rooms that were built earlier were removed to make-way for newer classrooms. There was even a time where there were so many students that the school hired a marquee from Hopuhopu military camp to be used as a classroom.
In 1954 the second school in Tokoroa opened and was named Tokoroa Central School. Tokoroa School then became Tokoroa East School. Tokoroa Central School took 400 of the 800 students, bringing the roll of Tokoroa East School down to more reasonable numbers that the school could cater for (Lory, 1977).
Construction began around this time on Kinleith and a plant in Kawerau. These two processing plants were set to be the giant plants that would cater for the overflow of trees that needed processing in the following years.
Photo: Staff of 1952 - during the period of growth in Tokoroa.