Our History
Our Beginning
Established in 1978, Chanel College remains the only Catholic secondary school in the Wairarapa.
Chanel College was formed through the merger of two schools: St Joseph’s College for Boys, founded in 1945 by Monsignor Nicholas Moore and run by the Marist Brothers and St Bride’s College for Girls, founded in 1898 by the Brigidine Sisters. Our school stands on the original site of St Joseph’s College.
Named after St Peter Chanel who was a Marist Missionary Priest, martyred on 28 April 1841, on the island of Futuna in Oceania. Marist priests worked in the Wairarapa in the early days of European settlement and they had a particular interest in education. St Peter Chanel is a patron of the Catholic Church in New Zealand.
Our emblem reflects our heritage. It combines the Brigidine Cross with a stylised M, representing the Brigidine Sisters and Marist Brothers, who helped shape our school.
Each year, scholarships – supported by the St Bride’s Old Girls Association and the St Joseph’s Old Boys’ Association – help preserve their legacy and support future generations of students.
Chanel College is owned by the Wellington Archdiocese. It serves the Catholic community by providing a faith based education. In 1981, it became an Integrated School, ensuring that Catholic education remains accessible to future generations. In 2028, Chanel College will proudly celebrate 50 years of Catholic education in the Wairarapa.