The school was founded in 1889 when Frederick Gibson bought a school run in Papanui by friends of his, Ada, Kate and Jessie Gresham, who were moving to Australia. The school had 18 students, aged 5 to 16 years old. Initially Gibson's daughters Alice and Helenand their mother Mary ran the school, calling it "Miss Gibson's Private School for Girls". In 1891 the school moved to a building in Webb Street and was renamed Rangi Ruru, meaning "wide sky-shelter". This name had been suggested by a Māori chief of Rapaki Pa, Pāora Taki, a friend of Frederick Gibson. Helen Gibson continued as Principal and her sisters Alice, Ethel, Ruth and Winifred joined as teachers. The school prospered under Helen Gibson's leadership, and grew to over 200 students at the time of her death in 1938. From 1938 until the sale of the school in 1946, Ethel Gibson was principal; her sisters continued to assist and support her. The school moved to its present site in 1923, as the Webb Street building was becoming too small. Te Koraha, the original house on the site, had been the home of the Rhodes family; it was made available to the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York for their June 1901royal visit to Christchurch. The Rangi Ruru Board of Governors was established in 1946 when PresbyterianChurch members purchased the school from the Gibson family. While the Christchurch Presbytery approves appointments, the board is autonomous. In the early 1980s the school wanted to have an on-site chapel, while simultaneously the congregation of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church at Hospital Corner was declining. It was decided to relocate the church to the school site, and in 1986 the building was moved to land adjacent to the school on Merivale Lane. The church became known as "St Andrew's at Rangi Ruru".
Academic achievement
Rangi Ruru is consistently one of New Zealand's highest-achieving schools in academic achievement. In 2013, 100 percent of girls leaving Rangi Ruru held at least NCEA Level 1, 98.2 percent held at least NCEA Level 2, and 92.0 percent held at least University Entrance. This is compared to 86.8%, 77.2%, and 55.4% respectively for girls nationally.
Academic scholarships
Each year about 3 per cent of Year 13 students studying each subject at level 3 will get Scholarship. In 2009 Rangi Ruru students achieved a total of 62 Scholarships in 18 subjects by 38 students, including 14 with Outstanding Performance. In 2008, Rangi girls achieved a total of 41 Scholarships, including five with Outstanding Performance, in 14 subjects by 31 students. In 2007, Rangi girls achieved 51 Scholarship awards with nearly 44% of successful scholarship entries.
Athletics
Rangi girls are highly active in over 40 sport codes and the school is recognised for its sporting achievements. It is regularly one of the top performing schools at rowing's Maadi Cup having won the Dawn Cup for overall achievement on a number of occasions. The school has a very high sports participation rate, and a large number of girls who are high performance athletes, representing the region or country in their sports code.
Culture
Rangi Ruru has an excellent reputation for the cultural and creative opportunities it offers students and the achievement of students in this area. Both while at school and for those who pursue their creative interests through tertiary and career. The school's Visual Arts Faculty is held in particularly high regard and is notable for the number of students achieving NZ Scholarships. In 2004, Rangi Ruru was the first school in New Zealand to perform the musical Les Misérables: School Edition in collaboration with Christ's College.
