New life for old school site
The former Turakina Maori Girls’ College site is being reborn as a base for Maori health and training needs.
The school closed in 2016, and Rangitıkei iwi Nga Wairiki – Nga ti Apa bought the 5.16-hectare campus on Hendersons Line, in Marton, in March last year, relocating its administration and health and social services unit.
Its ambitions have been boosted by $95,000 from the Provincial Growth Fund, with plans to set up training courses, said Iwi spokesperson Kiri Wilson.
‘‘The main thing is we meet the needs and aspirations of our people. That’s important. As time changes needs and aspirations change, the big one is education and employment and training,’’ she said.
‘‘We’re looking at what we can do to be helpful and in a position where we can support our people to have a clear pathway in education and employment.’’
There will be an official opening of the new site on Friday.
Ru¯ nanga staff and the environment manager are now based at the old college, along with their health branch, which has wha¯ nau ora and social workers.
Since the iwi took over they have been carrying out general maintenance to the buildings.
Wilson said there was still more work to do but there were huge possibilities for the site.
The iwi’s developments chairwoman Tracey Hook said the commitment from regional economic development minister Shane Jones was an endorsement of the potential of the property. There is belief the property can be transformed into an education, training and employment centre for the district. How it could be used for regional and national training needs is still to be assessed.
The iwi’s ru nanga chairman Pahia Turia said they would look at opportunities to work with the community to develop the property, but a priority was ensuring Nga Wairiki and Ngati Apa descendants benefited directly from the venture’s services.
The next step is for the iwi to start working on a business plan with the Government.
Taonga from the old college such as honours boards and statues will be displayed in the buildings.