Te Kura o Te Whānau a Apanui New School
Sector: Education
Location: Te Kaha
Status: Completed 2022
Size: 2,700m²
In 2015, the Ministry of Education announced the closure of three East Coast schools, Raukokore School, Te Kura o Omaio and Te Whānau a Apanui Area School. The Ministry also announced at the same time, the creation of a new school, Te Kura o Te Whānau a Apanui. That’s when DCA Architects of Transformation teamed up with our colleagues at MOAA Architects and won the commission for the new school.
Political debate halted any immediate start on the project, and it wasn’t until early 2018 the master planning was started. The design team are also supported by cultural advisors, Rau Hoskin, architect and Dean Whiting, an artist with iwi connections to the area. The resulting design, a collaboration of many stakeholders, tells the story of their history and holds all the aspirations of the people of Te Whānau a Apanui to create a unique school for their future generations.
Awards.
2023 NZIA New Zealand Architecture Award – Education
2023 NZIA Waikato / Bay of Plenty Award – Education
2023 ADNZ National Kaitiakitanga Sustainability Award
2023 ADNZ Waikato / Bay of Plenty – Commercial Winner