34 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Te Kamo High School: Canam T T Karen Phelps College learning spaces transformed The new facilities feature innovative design elements that prioritise visibility, flexibility and cultural significance. “We learned this whole area was originally a ponga forest, so we have embedded that narrative in the fabric of our school values – what we are and who we are.” With the completion of 14 new classrooms in a state-of-the-art, two-storey building, students and staff at Te Kamo High School in Northland are already experiencing profound benefits, despite the broader redevelopment project facing Ministry of Education funding delays. “For us as a school it’s been transformative with regards to how our students are learning,” explains Natasha Hemara, principal of Te Kamo High School. “They have moved from cold, damp classrooms to bright, open, transparent learning environments. “We have noticed a significant decrease in behavioural issues and more focus on learning time. Everyone is visible, so they are engaged.” The completed classrooms represent the first phase of a $22 million redevelopment project that aims to replace 24 end-of-life classrooms with 22 modern learning spaces. The new facilities feature innovative design elements that prioritise visibility, flexibility and cultural significance. Natasha says that what truly sets this project apart is its deep integration of local Māori cultural narratives, developed in partnership with the local hapū, Ngati Kahu o Torongare. This collaboration has embedded meaningful cultural elements throughout the building design. “Being able to work in depth with your local hapū and bring to life some of their narratives has been amazing,” notes Natasha. “We learned this whole area was originally a ponga forest, so we have embedded that narrative in the fabric of our school values – what we are and who we are.” The building’s thoughtful design reflects this cultural heritage through both structure and aesthetics. The colour scheme transitions from darker shades at the bottom to lighter hues at the top, representing the ponga forest environment. Glass panels etched with visual representations of the school’s core values create both physical transparency and cultural connection. The local hapū gifted the name of the building: Te Herenga Rauponga, the gathering space of many ponga trees. The innovative classroom layout includes strategic placement of year groups to maximise positive influence. “We have put senior student classrooms next to junior student classrooms, so the students are positively affected by the learning that is going on around them,” explains Natasha. “When I’m teaching I can glance through the whole block to see the learning occurring in other classrooms, and the students can too.” Despite these impressive gains, the project has hit significant roadblocks. The construction of the remaining eight classrooms has been paused due to Ministry of Education funding constraints, creating challenges for a school already under-allocated for classrooms and experiencing increasing enrolments. Although the school’s journey towards these new facilities has been long and challenging, with initial assessments declaring the old buildings end-of-life as far back as 2013, Natasha remains positive. “Despite the challenges of building a school and Ministry of Education holds on builds and all the complexities that come with it, what it has delivered for us as a school is an opportunity to transform learning for our students and teachers, and has created a strong and robust relationship with our local iwi and hapū. If you do things with an intent to do it well and right, great things can happen.” Commercial • Residential • Precast • Asbestos Removal Agricultural • Industrial • Steel Fabrication • Demolition www.barfoote.com 09-438 3456 info@barfoote.com
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