86 | Creating an ‘awesome’ environment for learning The redevelopment was announced in 2017 with government confirming a $15 million investment in 2018. In 2023, demolition of Blocks B and C began, and in 2025 Te Urukahika block opened. COMMUNITY Mana College: Naylor Love T T Rosa Wason “(It was) to provide an awesome learning environment for local kids to attend their local school and become a school that attracts the best teachers and educational leaders.” The redevelopment of Mana College at Porirua is transforming its 1950s-era facilities into modern, sustainable, and culturally grounded learning spaces. Up to 21 old classrooms are being demolished and replaced with 17 larger, adaptable spaces to support modern teaching methods. Already completed is Te Urukahika, which houses the Te Whare Ako (TWA) special needs unit, new science labs, art rooms, digital labs for creative design and digital tech, hard materials room and construction school. Also completed is the gym refurbishment, including the addition of a new classroom and courts resurfaced with astro turf. Designs are almost ready for a new ‘front of school’ space that will house the administration area and E tipu e Rea (Māori immersion) teaching space, including the construction of a new wharenui. Principal Jeff Chapman says funding for this is expected to be approved by April and included in this year’s government budget. “We hope to be in the pipeline of works for 2025/2026.” The project was originally in four to five stages, including different learning hubs, a civic hub with a cafe, library, food lab, performance hub, a new wharenui, including Māori studies and Hauora (wellbeing) centre, gym teaching space, and a specialist teaching space for subjects such as Te Whare Ako/ TWA - Sspecial needs, technology, visual and performing arts and science. The overall concept was the vision of Ngāti Toa rangatira kaumatua Dr Taku Parai, whereby the outlay of the college site would resemble a waka that has come to rest on the land. The central spine of the school is the line of the waka hull, with different puna (wells of knowledge), such as learning hubs, fanning out to the side of the spine, like waka hoe (or paddles). Jeff says a priority is that the front of the school has the entrance to the school marae ‘Te Mana Whenua o Ngāti Toa’ as the first thing manuhiri (visitors), staff and ākonga see when they enter the college. The redevelopment was announced in 2017 with government confirming a $15 million investment in 2018. In 2023, demolition of Blocks B and C began, and in 2025 Te Urukahika block opened. Funding for the redevelopment came through a combination of the government’s Five Year Agreement and capital works funds. The preliminary capital works design was drafted by architects Stephenson & Turner (S&T) in mid-2020, influenced by a Ngāti Toa Rangatira Cultural Narrative prepared by Natasha Ropata and Core Education Ltd, with construction carried out by Naylor Love. The project was a dream and legacy of previous principal John Murdoch in liaison with iwi, community, staff and students. “(It was) to provide an awesome learning environment for local kids to attend their local school and become a school that attracts the best teachers and educational leaders,” Jeff says. He says it will be a community asset where the modern facilities can be utilised, hired out and shared with whānau and community. “A beacon of positivity, learning, community engagement and ‘place to be’.” Already there have been art and music events, architectural showcases, `pōwhiri, blessings of buildings/spaces, use of the gym, courts for community sports, and cultural events. The students are “amazed, privileged, thankful, (and) grateful”, he says. “The new buildings now match the warmth of our kids, staff, iwi and community.” Mana College provides education for learners in Years 9 to 13, including on-site Construction and Service Academies. There are currently just over 500 learners enrolled in the school, covering multiple ethnicities, including 57% identifying as Māori, 42% identifying as Pākehā/New Zealand European, 34% as being of Pacific heritage and a growing Asian and Filipino learner community. The redevelopment will accommodate 600 to 650 students. Currently, the roll is sitting at just above 500, having risen from 381 in July 2018, and is expected to reach 520 to 530 by 2028. Stace Diamond 021 222 5514 | Simon Miller 021 855 109 office@advancedsiteworks.co.nz | www.advancedsiteworks.co.nz Specialising in Excavation, Siteworks, Demolition & Internal strip out work. Mana College & Naylor Love Proudly supporting tim@in-sink.co.nz in-sink.co.nz
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