pōtiki College has opened a new building featuring seven classrooms, reception and staff facilities, bringing an end to an eight-year journey marked by delays and challenges.

The new B Block was officially opened at a ceremony attended by members of the school community, local representatives and East Cape MP Dana Kirkpatrick.

The project began about nine years ago, with plans to replace the old B and C Blocks. However, progress was delayed by Covid-19 and other issues before the project was made a priority in 2023.

The presence of black mould in the old blocks and the need to urgently relocate from the buildings added to the urgency of getting the project completed.

For the college, the opening marked an important milestone after years of work by successive principals, boards of trustees, staff and others involved in securing the new facilities.

Speaking at the ceremony, principal Glenn Phipps acknowledged the challenges along the way, saying the project had not always been an easy journey.

“There have been challenges, delays, frustrations, and moments when the finish line seemed a long way away,” he said.

“At times, it has been a fight to keep the project moving forward, or even to keep our school open.”

He said the college could now look at what had been achieved and feel proud of the result.

The new building provides seven classrooms, a reception area, leadership offices and a staffroom. The additional classrooms are expected to help the college accommodate the number of students coming through each year, while the new facilities provide an updated space for students and staff.

The opening was also an opportunity to acknowledge the people who had helped move the project forward over the years.

Phipps thanked former principals, current and former board members, the Ministry of Education team and the construction team for their contributions.

He gave particular recognition to board members who had remained involved throughout the project, as well as those who had spent considerable time in meetings and negotiations to ensure the build was completed.

Staff and students were also acknowledged for their patience while waiting for the new facilities.

Phipps said students had put up with construction, changes, noise and disruption during the process.

He also thanked the wider community and local representatives for their support, including Kirkpatrick and Ōpōtiki’s local government representatives.

Kirkpatrick spoke about her own involvement in supporting the college, describing it as an important part of the community and the future of local young people.

She recalled attending a rugby competition at Memorial Park and noticing the number of children taking part.

When she asked where the children went to school, she was told many were leaving town.

“That can’t be what happens to support you. We need to make this right,” she said.

Kirkpatrick said a college was more than a collection of buildings, describing it as a community hub where young people could grow and aspire to great things.

She said Ōpōtiki deserved a college its community could be proud of, with students able to receive an education that helped them move towards their futures.

She also expressed hope that the new building would be the beginning of further improvements at the school.

Phipps echoed that sentiment, saying the opening was not simply about completing a building project, but about looking ahead to the next stage of the college’s development.

“A new building does not by itself improve education.”

He said the college had been working on improving teaching practices over the previous two terms, including professional development in structured literacy and explicit direct teaching.

Some staff had also visited schools in Sydney and Perth to learn from their approaches.

Phipps said the college was beginning to see benefits from the work, but acknowledged there was still more to do.

He said an investment case was being developed for the Ministry of Education to consider the college’s ongoing development and future property needs.

The ceremony included acknowledgements of those who had contributed to the project, followed by the cutting of the ribbon and an opportunity for attendees to look through the new building.

For the college, the opening marked the completion of a long-awaited project, while also providing an opportunity to look towards the future and continue improving facilities and educational opportunities for students.

Milestone for college

■ The opening of seven new classrooms is a win for young people, writes Dana Kirkpatrick

Friday’s opening of seven new classrooms at Ōpōtiki College is a fantastic milestone for the school and the wider community.

After eight years of work to get to this point, it was great to see the new facilities officially opened and celebrate what has been achieved through the persistence and hard work of the school staff and everyone involved.

With the school roll growing by 48 students by 2025, these new classrooms will help provide the space students need to learn, grow and make the most of their education.

I’ve been working alongside the school community to help make this happen, and it’s rewarding to see that effort come to fruition.

Most importantly, this is a win for Ōpōtiki’s young people, who deserve access to quality learning environments and the opportunity to reach their potential close to home.

Our schools play such an important role in the future of our communities and today was a chance to recognise the people who have worked hard to make this investment a reality.

Congratulations to the Ōpōtiki College team on this achievement. I look forward to seeing students make the most of their new classrooms for years to come.