Start made on expanding school’s capacity

Ground has been broken for the second phase of Wakatipu High School’s expansion after delays due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

Aimed at extending the still-new school’s capacity from 1200 students to 1800, a groundbreaking ceremony was held yesterday afternoon, at which school board chairman Charlie Phillips joked it was as "shovel-ready as you can get".

Principal Steve Hall said building contractor Southbase Construction would move on site sometime next term — "it may not be till August or so".

The project primarily comprises two two-storey classroom wings tacked on to the school’s eastern side, and a doubling of the size of the gym.

Mr Hall hoped one wing would be completed by the end of next year, and the two other main components finished about mid-2022.

Wakatipu High School principal Steve Hall performs a hongi with Oraka Aparima runaka general manager Riki Dallas while runaka representative Raniera Dallas and high school head girl Greta Balfour (17) look on at the official groundbreaking of the school’s phase two expansion yesterday afternoon. PHOTO: TRACEY ROXBURGH

Along with the extensions there would be some modifications to the existing Remarkables Park building, which the school moved into at the start of 2018.

Due to the disruptions, much teaching next year and probably into 2022 would take place in temporary classrooms which would be moved on to the school’s northwestern corner late this year.

The school’s roll is about 1057.