Rangi Ruru Girls' School was founded in 1889 by Miss Helen Gibson, and was administered by her and her sisters for nearly sixty years.  The Gibson sisters; Mary, Beatrice, Helen, Alice, Lucy, Ethel, Ruth and Winifred all helped in some way with the running of the school.

Since 1946, when it was purchased by a group of Church people, it has been managed by an independent Board of Governors, appointed by the Presbytery of Christchurch.

Rangi Ruru, the name of the school, was suggested by an old Maori Chief of Rapaki Pa, Paora Taki. It is translated“ wide sky shelter” and indicates that the school stands for hospitality and generosity.

The motto, Whaia to te Rangi - Seek the Heavenly Things - reminds us that education cannot be limited to physical, cultural or academic studies only, but must include our spiritual dimension if we are to find values that are really worthwhile in life.

Principals of Rangi Ruru Girls' School
Miss Helen F Gibson                  1889-1938
Miss Ethel M Gibson                  1938-1946
Miss May Farquharson               1946-1947
Miss Rewiti O Mason                 1947-1951
Mrs Margaret G Patrick              1951-1969
Miss W Lesley Anderson            1969-1972
Mrs Raywyn Ramage (Adam)      1973-1988
Mrs Gillian Heald                       1989-2002 (Terms 1 and 2)
Ms Julie Moor                             2002 (Terms 3 and 4) - current