Mangere school’s $23m makeover

Southern Cross Campus is beginning its second stage of a large $23.5 million redevelopment project.

Education Minister Hekia Parata announced the new plans for the Mangere school in south Auckland.

That includes 24 new teaching spaces, a new multi-purpose centre, library and administration facilities.

The first stage involved creating a new trades academy which cost about $3.5m.

The principal of Southern Cross Campus, Robin Staples, says it is a ‘‘very exciting initiative’’.

‘‘It has been long overdue. We’ve had a leaky building for some time,’’ he says.

In the redevelopment, the school will also get a new gymnasium, student cafes and two-storey classrooms.

Staples says many ‘‘new schools have two-storey classrooms built to incorporate more students and facilities’’.

About $5.9 million will be added towards the redevelopment of Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae that shares a site with Southern Cross Campus.

This extra investment ‘‘will take the total value of the project to over $21 million,’’ says Parata.

She add that it will enable the kura ‘‘to be relocated on a larger area within the shared site’’.

Work on the kura project expected to begin in November.

Parata says work has started on more than $150m worth of upgrades and redevelopments at several schools.

The Southern Cross Campus site also has a trades academy, early childhood centres, a daycare and a special school satellite unit.

In south Auckland, those include Papatoetoe Central School and The Gardens School.

The principal of Papatoetoe Central School, Marilyn Gwilliam says the ’’building hasn’t yet begun’’.

‘‘We are looking forward to having a new building to replace very old classrooms.’’, she notes.

Elsewhere across Auckland, Takapuna Primary School, Bayswater School, Western Springs College and Freemans Bay School are all have redevelopment work underway.

‘‘Earlier in June, Minister Kaye and I announced a further $153 million investment in Auckland schools, as part of the $882.5m set aside for school infrastructure under Budget 2016,’’ she says. is