History
The school was established in 1850 by the then Governor-in-Chief, Sir George Grey, and was officially recognised as an educational establishment in 1868 through the Auckland Grammar School Appropriation Act.
Auckland Grammar School buildings contain two Category I historic places, the school's main block and a war memorial. An obelisk located in front of the school commemorates former students who fought in various wars. The school's main block, built in 1916 in the "Spanish Mission" style, is used for daily assemblies, exhibitions, and contains various classrooms. Surrounding the main hall in which the daily assembly is held are the school honours boards listing the names of the school's top scholars including Rhodes Scholars and Girdlers Scholars.
The school owns a facility called the VentureLodge located in the township of Ohakune, in the central North Island, which is used by students for camps.
The school's motto is "Per Angusta ad Augusta" which translates to "Through difficulties to greatness." The school has also translated the motto as "Through rough ravines to hallowed heights." The origin of the motto is uncertain, but it was a common maxim at the time of the school's founding.
A documentary on the school titled Grammar Boys was aired in July 2005 on TV3.
As of June 25, 2012, Tim O'Connor (former Rector at Palmerston North Boys' High School) was announced as the new Headmaster of Auckland Grammar School. He replaces John Morris who has held the position since 1993. Mr. O'Connor is set to takeover in Term 4 (October) of 2012.
Read more about this topic: Auckland Grammar School
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“Modern Western thought will pass into history and be incorporated in it, will have its influence and its place, just as our body will pass into the composition of grass, of sheep, of cutlets, and of men. We do not like that kind of immortality, but what is to be done about it?”
—Alexander Herzen (1812–1870)
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—Aristotle (384–322 B.C.)
“... that there is no other way,
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We set out to accomplish and wanted so desperately
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—John Ashbery (b. 1927)