In 1922, it became Hastings Technical School under the leadership of William Penlington, who remained headmaster until 1949.

[3] It has four Houses, Te Mata (red), Heretaunga (blue), Te Kahu (grey) and Manu Huia (black).

These houses compete in many sporting events with each other throughout the year.

[5][6] The Māori tribe Ngāti Huia agreed, in principle, to support the endeavour, which would be carried out at the University of Otago, and a California-based Internet start-up volunteered $100,000 of funding.

Named after the Heretaungan landmark, Te Mata Peak.