WHAT THE STUDENTSWANT
A $9 million revamp of Porirua’s Mana College has come as bittersweet news to its head boy.
Applause from students and staff followed the announcement, made by Prime Minister Bill English on Thursday last week. But Aukilani Nofoaiga was more hesitant in his response.
‘‘I’m definitely gutted I won’t be here to see it, but it’s great for the students who come after me.’’
In his speech, English said the money was ‘‘a gesture of confidence’’ in what the decile 2 school and its surrounding community could achieve, a message that wasn’t lost on 18-year-old Nofoaiga.
‘‘Hearing that was the best part of the day, that was even better than the money.’’
On Thursday afternoon, after the politicians left, Nofoaiga and five of his fellow students sat down with their principal, John Murdoch, to discuss what the money meant for the school.
Half of them would experience the transformation, but the others would be at university before work was due to begin in 2019.
Head girl Deborah Kirisome said her college was already special.
‘‘We’re a family here, and I’m proud it’s going to be a better place for upcoming students.’’
With a roll of mainly Maori and Pasifika students, it was the mix of cultures that set the college apart from other schools, she said.
‘‘Everyone looks after everyone else. I’ve been here five years and I’ve never seen any bullying.’’
Rikihana Love, 14, was keen to see some of the money spent on the college’s ageing basketball courts, and Tyler Mata, 14, had more scholarly ideas.
‘‘I’d like to have more languages taught here.’’
Murdoch described how the money would transform Mana into ‘‘a school for the future’’ and give his students what they are owed.
‘‘They’re going to get a little bit of what they deserve.’’
The canteen and library would be rebuilt and would be open for the wider community to use outside school hours, providing students with jobs.
‘‘This is incredibly important for us. We now have the capability to transform this place into a place that will help students achieve.’’
Several school buildings would be demolished to make way for new, open plan classrooms, he said.
Before Murdoch’s appoint- ment, a plummeting roll, poor financial management and a lack of direction among students and staff saw the college placed into statutory management in 2015 and since revoked.
Murdoch said the college was now going from strength to strength with ‘‘significant achievement’’ in last year’s NCEA results and, this year, its first roll increase in six years, rising from 310 to 370 students.
NCEA pass rates more than doubled at Lower Hutt’s Taita College during Murdoch’s six-year tenure.
Education Minister Nikki Kaye said the college had achieved great results despite having to work in facilities well past their best. Associate Education Minister Tim Macindoe said the work was expected to take up to 24 months to complete.