| 45 Tauhara College COMMUNITY T T Sue Russell Seriously needed major work done A redeveloped gymnasium has been rebuilt. To describe Ben Hancock’s initiation into the leadership role at Taupo’s Tauhara College as something of an unexpected challenge would be an understatement. Ben had only been in the Principal’s role for four weeks when the school of approximately 700 students experienced an exceptional weather event resulting in widespread flooding inside and out of several buildings. “When I started here there was an understanding by the school community that the Ministry of Education was going to do a redevelopment of the site but then that was put on hold. However when we experienced the flooding, and major rot and structural damage was discovered in several buildings, it meant the school seriously needed to have major work done,” Ben says. In fact when walls were taken off, the decision was made by Ministry property inspectors to condemn the building causing the school to close early in November 2020, allowing the Ministry to bring on prefabs for teachers and students to use when they returned in February 2021. In the first year of development the objectives were to settle the prefabs on site before more fit-for-purpose buildings could be considered. “In the second year the old school was demolished and we started to really consider what our school could look like. We knew the Ministry had to build a technology suite and pastoral care facility. Once we started getting into the scoping phase it took about six months to finalise with the Ministry what we were getting and what we were not getting.” When the new coalition government came into power, progress initially stalled as a nation-wide hold on school works came into force, however Ben says the school was always optimistic it would receive something. Once the government had done its due diligence the school was left on the Ministry of Education’s works programme, much to everyone’s relief. “The only thing that changed was that the rebuild was going to be staged over several years.” So what has been achieved so far? A redeveloped gymnasium has been rebuilt and the school hall renovation is completed. “Now we’re underway with Stage 1B, the substantial admin, staffing facilities, technologies, science all housed in a two- storey block which will take us through to New Zealand’s Only Artificial Turf Manufacturer Educa�on and Early Childhood Centres Performance Sports Surfaces Commercial Landscape TigerTurf designs, installs and provides maintenance for a wide range of projects. www.tigerturf.com 0800 804 134 nzinfo@tigerturf.com about May 2026. Before this, however our caretakers area has been demolished and relocated to a new position on site, and we have also constructed a new astro turf. The school is paying for the turf area to be covered also, so there’s been lots of positives going on.” Following that build, construction will move straight into Stage 2. This consists of two separate buildings; Block LB which will house art and photography, music and band rooms, a e-sports centre, library, canteen, the Hauora centre for student welfare, learning support and the Deans area. “The second building is the school wharenui out the front of the school, this building is a very significant one for us and our community.’ With a view to the future, the Ministry has built into the development sufficient capacity to cater for a roll growth of up to 1000 students, expected to be reached within the next decade. Livingstone Building NZ were awarded principal contractor for the early stages of the build, with the view that the company will tender for subsequent stages. “They have been very good to work with, given the school is operating throughout the construction phases. I can see they have considerable experience in ensuring the least disruption as possible and they communicate very well.” Tauhara College has a unique approach to student learning. “We’re not a traditional school in the sense of curriculum delivery. Each year we connect with our students to find out what their interests and passions are and our teachers deliver the national curriculum standards through these themes. So it is quite a dynamic, progressive and engaging pedagogical approach.
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