But now the pews in Kaikorai Valley College's school hall are to be replaced.
Principal Philip Craigie said many of the wooden pews had been in the school hall since it opened in 1958.
And based on the general consensus of those sitting on them regularly, they were not built with comfort in mind.
"They may well be a chiropractor's nightmare," he said.
"The seats are very hard to sit on for any length of time. It's manageable for a few minutes. We note it at prizegiving times."
Mr Craigie said the school had kept the pews for such a long time because they were still in good condition, they served the school's needs, and the school could not afford to replace them.
However, a $40,000 grant from the Ministry of Education's property plan meant all 150 pews would be replaced in January with new ergonomically shaped plastic chairs.
The grant would also be used to sand and varnish the hall's floor.
As for the old pews, the "antiques" can be bought for posterity or as souvenirs.
They would be sold for $10 each, with the proceeds going into further refurbishment of the hall, Mr Craigie said.
