| 47 Tiaho School COMMUNITY T T to page 48 T T Bernadette Cooney A new era of education has begun The indicative plan. The countdown to cutting the ribbon on a new era of education has begun for Tiaho Primary School in the Hawkes Bay, which is undergoing a major rebuild that will return a permanent, modern and functional learning environment to its Wairoa community. “The 2025 rebuild coincides with the school’s 20th anniversary and is testament to the hard work and strong partnerships and commitment to a brighter future that everyone involved with this project have demonstrated, and we’re very excited to see our school return from this October,” says Principal Lisa Grant. Tiaho Primary School was established in 2005 following a government review, which led to the closure and merging of eleven schools in Wairoa. Tiaho emerged from the unification of Hillneath School and Turiroa School, says its Principal Lisa Grant. The school has faced numerous infrastructure issues at its original site since its inception, with requests for maintenance evidenced from as far back as 2006. Originally accommodating 240 students across 12 classrooms, enrolment has since declined to sixty-five students across four classrooms. “Enrolments have suffered as result of a series of unfortunate and unforeseeable events which meant it became harder to attract new families with such uncertainty,” says Lisa. When Tiaho Primary School needed a temporary learning environment during its rebuild, Modcom Portable Buildings of Tauranga stepped up to deliver a complete end to end efficient solution. Proudly New Zealand owned and operated, Modcom is known for transforming spaces across the education, commercial, construction and event sectors with high-quality, custom-built portable buildings delivered to site anywhere in the North Island. For the Tiaho project, Modcom relocated ministry-owned classrooms from another school, supplied portable classrooms and an ablution block. As a pre-approved supplier to the Ministry’s off-site manufacturing panel, Modcom brings deep expertise in building and delivering learning environments that meet both practical needs and long-term durability standards. “These situations can be really tough on schools,” says Annaliese Michel, CEO of Modcom. “It’s not just about buildings—it is about keeping the school community together and ensuring students can keep learning without disruption. We’re proud to be part of Tiaho’s journey back to a permanent home.” “There’s actually a personal connection for me with this one,” Annaliese adds. “My brother-in-law attended Tiaho Primary. He and my sister are now farming in Gisborne but knowing there is that family history made this project even more meaningful for us.” What sets Modcom apart is their end-to-end project management. From the initial design to council consent, site preparation, and transport, Modcom handles everything in-house—including delivery via their own fleet of trucks and cranes where possible. This creates a smooth, stress-free process for clients, especially in high-pressure situations like school rebuilds. “Our portable classrooms aren’t just temporary fixes,” says Annaliese. “They’re robust, high-performing spaces that are designed to support real learning and wellbeing. They arrive on site fully built, customised, and ready to go.” Each building can be tailored with features like bathrooms, kitchenettes, and full accessibility for students with high-needs disabilities. Buildings are set up quickly and securely by regional subcontractors handling local on-site connections, which keeps investment flowing into local communities. While education is a key focus, Modcom buildings are also widely used in commercial projects, orchards, farms, hospitality, and construction sites. From temporary offices to lunchrooms and ablution blocks, their flexible design makes them a smart choice, available for temporary hire or permanent installation. Whether it is a classroom, lunchroom, studio, or office, Modcom delivers environments that work—built to last and ready to go. Quality, purpose built transportable buildings proudly local and delivered with care. A complete end to end solution Need space? Modcom delivers. Commercial, education, events – custom portable buildings, managed from design to delivery. Call us to discover your perfect space. MODCOM PORTABLE BUILDINGS 0800 225 525 www.modcom.co.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=