Figure 1.--Many New Zealand schools continued to require short pants uniforms in the 1990s. Some even required the older boys to wear them. |
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Information on the uniforms at individual schools over time offer some useful information on school uniform trends in New Zealand. While many New Zealand schools require traditional uniforms, there have been many significant changes over time. There are also differences between different types of schools.
The following details are avilable on individual New Zealand schools. The changing fashions over time are a good indicator of trends in New Zealand school fashions.
Ahipara Primary School is a rural school in Northland, situated within the Ahipara township. Ahipara is a small coastal settlement of approximately 2000 people. It was founded in 1872 as a Mission school with 47 pupils. The school roll has a predominate Maori base. The picture shows a class in 1972. Two children wear traditional Maori costume.
Brown Owl School is a state primary school in Upper Hut, a town about 30 km from Wellington (New Zealand). We have here a photo of the soccer team in 1973. The main sport in New Zealand is rugby, but also soccer has its supporters. The New Zealand national team is now the Champion of Oceania. The boys in the photo are wearing white soccer shorts. Someone wear jerseys with white collars, someone without collars. They are not wearing uniform socks and shoes. Someone wear knee-socks, others ankle-socks. Also the colors seem different. The second boy from left in the front row probably is wearing soccer shoes with plastic studs (professional shoes had metal studs). The second boy from right wears sneakers, the first one is barefoot. The others boys seem wearing their everyday shoes. I don't know how they played. In New Zealand rugby is often played in bare feet by young boys, but I don't know if the same happened with soccer. (In 1950 the India National team asked for playing barefoot during the FIFA World Cup, but they were not allowed. India gave up participating to the competition).
The boys have a leather ball. The present-day white (or black and white) ball was used the first time in 1970 during the FIFA World Cup of Mexico. Here the boys have the traditional brown ball.
Whataki Boys High School is a traditional single gender state high school at Whataki on South Island. There is also a girls' school at Whtaki. As at most New Zealand secondary schools, especially the single gender schools, a uniform is required. The boys have blazers, but generally only the older boys wear them. The typical day to day uniform is a light blue shirt, jumper, short pants, and kneesocks. If the boys want to dress up and wear a tie and long pants, they are allowed to do so.
Some personal accounts are also available describing the uniforms worn as individual schoolboys at different schools over time.:
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