In 1938 Dame Louise Henderson painted 8 panels for the opening of the Rangiora High School Nursery School depicting rural scenes inspired by North Canterbury life. At the time she taught art and textiles for a half-day each week at the high school.

In 1994 the nursery underwent renovations and the panels were found in storage. When rediscovered, the identity of the artist was initially unknown, with the initials 'L.H.' the only clue as to their identity. Judith Hoult, the Education Officer of the then Robert McDougall Art Gallery, undertook research and was able to confirm they were done by Louise Henderson.

The panels underwent restoration in 2005 thanks to fundraising efforts led by the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts. Following a brief exhibition at the University of Canterbury Ilam School of Fine Arts Gallery (22 Nov - 8 Dec 2006), they were re-installed at Rangiora High School Nursery.

In late 2023 seven panels were gifted to Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū by Rangiora High School Nursery School, while the eighth is held in a private collection.

In a 2011 article about the panels for Heritage Matters magazine, Kim Newth describes their presence in the nursery school:

"Above a filing cabinet in the RHS Nursery School office, a large painted panel catches the eye. It shows a farmer walking the land with coat drawn up, hat pulled down and tractor standing close by."

"Elsewhere in the nursery school, hung above rows of lunchboxes and children's play tables, are similar panels showing cows in the field, as well as idyllic scenes of children picking apples, hanging out washing, or swimming and playing at the beach."

She further clarifies the relevance of the Nursery School to the subject matter of the paintings:

"Initially, the nursery school opened just once a week - every Tuesday, the town's market day. The expectation was that children attending would be from farms, their parents in Rangiora to transact business on sale-day. This explains the panels' prevailing rural theme: they were explicitly designed to resonate with and inspire young country children in North Canterbury.”

See also:

• David Gunby, "Rangiora High School, 1884-1984, A Centennial History"

• Marion Shepherd, "Some of My Yesterdays - the Autobiography of Marion Shepherd"

• Josephine Rout, "The Louise Henderson Panels" (exhibition catalogue), SOFA University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts Gallery at the Arts Centre, 22 Nov - 8 Dec 2006

• Kim Newth, “Enriching Children's Lives with Art in the 1930s”, Heritage Matters, Autumn 2011, pp.42-44

• Louise Henderson, Untitled [Sheep] | Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū

• Louise Henderson, Untitled [Wheat] | Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū

• Louise Henderson, Untitled [Cows] | Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū

• Louise Henderson, Untitled [Sandcastle] | Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū

• Louise Henderson, Untitled [Ducks] | Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū

• Louise Henderson, Untitled [Fruit] | Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū

• Louise Henderson, Untitled [Dunes] | Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū

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Thanks to Phoebe Laird for assisting with this listing.