St. Anne's School
Description
DescriptionThe story of Kristin began with St Anne's Preparatory and Kindergarten School in Takapuna, which was founded in 1930 by an American educator, Nancy Langguth, who had trained at Columbia University. When in late 1972 St Anne's announced unexpectedly that it would be closing, a group of parents set about starting their own school to fill the gap.
At the time, St Anne's was the North Shore's only non-Catholic independent school - Catholic schools were not integrated into the state system until 1979 - and it offered students a particularly nurturing environment. Nancy Langguth's original vision had been 'a modern education based on proved [sic] scientific principles for boys and girls from three years old up to High School age'. (1) Although the school pre-dated Kristin by more than 40 years, its guiding principles were similar to those adopted by Kristin's founders: classes that were not too large, and a style of education that was focused on each child's individual strengths. (2).
Initially located in Earnoch Avenue in Takapuna, behind the original Takapuna Post Office, St Anne's school relocated to Tennyson Avenue before settling on a 3-acre (1.2 hectare) site overlooking Takapuna Beach in Gibbons Avenue.
Excerpt from 'Kristin 1973-2023: 50 years of progress with vision, integrity and love' by Debra Millar, pg.13.
(1) 'St Anne's Preparatory and Kindergarten School' prospectus, circa 1933. Kristin School Archives.
(2) Ibid.
This collection contains original documents, photographs and objects related to St. Anne's School.Datec1935 - 1972Collection SummaryPhotographs, documents and objects related to St. Anne's School.
At the time, St Anne's was the North Shore's only non-Catholic independent school - Catholic schools were not integrated into the state system until 1979 - and it offered students a particularly nurturing environment. Nancy Langguth's original vision had been 'a modern education based on proved [sic] scientific principles for boys and girls from three years old up to High School age'. (1) Although the school pre-dated Kristin by more than 40 years, its guiding principles were similar to those adopted by Kristin's founders: classes that were not too large, and a style of education that was focused on each child's individual strengths. (2).
Initially located in Earnoch Avenue in Takapuna, behind the original Takapuna Post Office, St Anne's school relocated to Tennyson Avenue before settling on a 3-acre (1.2 hectare) site overlooking Takapuna Beach in Gibbons Avenue.
Excerpt from 'Kristin 1973-2023: 50 years of progress with vision, integrity and love' by Debra Millar, pg.13.
(1) 'St Anne's Preparatory and Kindergarten School' prospectus, circa 1933. Kristin School Archives.
(2) Ibid.
This collection contains original documents, photographs and objects related to St. Anne's School.Datec1935 - 1972Collection SummaryPhotographs, documents and objects related to St. Anne's School.
Photo
Document
St. Anne's School (c1935 - 1972). Kristin School Archives, accessed 20/03/2026, https://kristinschool.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/459





