The plan for an actual school at Peria was first put to the far-sighted Rangatira, Papahia, and his tribe, who then gave land for a school, a church and marae in 1866. The elders’ asked, through the Māori Land Court, “for the cleverest teacher with the best qualifications” for the new school. The church, built in 1867, was the first of two buildings erected on tribal land, and until the school opened, lessons were held there, and for many years an arch bearing “PERIA SCHOOL 1873” stood over the entrance gate. The name of the marae was taken from the never conquered Kauhanga Pā at Peria. Peria was then known as Oruru – the change of name came later when the Rev Renata Tangata named the top part of Oruru from the Biblical word Berea. This was changed into Peria by Māori who, not having B in their alphabet, used P.

The celebrations for the opening of the Peria School – the first Public Māori School in the North – lasted for two or three days. Delicacies such as godwits, toheroas and other seafood, pigeons and pork, were feasted upon. Potatoes and kumara were also on the menu. Taking part in the celebrations were pakeha and Māori families with their friends and relatives from the Far North, particularly from Takahue, Whatuwhiwhi and Ahipara.

In 1880, in accordance with the Education Act of 1879, the school was handed over by the Native Department to the Education Department as a Native School. Mr J H Pope made the first inspectorial visit on April 12 1880. The headmaster at this time was Mr J Capper, assisted by Mrs A Capper. Mr and Mrs Capper were to spend 13 years teaching at Peria School. Mr Capper had shared his knowledge in many directions. He instructed the Māori people on gardening and orchards, including the finer points of grafting and budding fruit trees. He also helped set up beehives in the area, teaching its residents how to attract and keep native bees. Mrs. Capper,
as did many of the later headteachers’ wives, assisted her husband. Setting an older pupil to mind the Primer children, she would take the older girls and teach them how to cook European style, including how to make jam.

In Feb 1901 Peria gained its first female Māori teacher. Miss Elizabeth (Titiata) Uruamo, originally from Woodhill was appointed assistant teacher.

The school was a Māori School until 1st April 1914 when it was handed over to the Auckland Education Board and became a European school. Reverend Renata Tangata (Rarawa) was raised at Ahipara and ordained in 1867 in Auckland. He married Hariata Tiarete (Charlotte Gerrard) and returned to the Far North that same year then preached into the 1880’s.