Education – Classroom growth continues on Coast 

The Hibiscus Coast received a welcome and timely boost last week with the announcement of six new classrooms for Whangaparāoa College, part of a national $100 million reinvestment to support school infrastructure and roll growth. This investment is a clear signal that the Coast continues to be recognised as one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing communities, and that our young people deserve facilities that match the scale of our future.

As more families choose to make their home here, schools, are under increasing pressure to accommodate more learners. Our roll has continued to grow. These additional classrooms are both a recognition of that demand and a commitment to ensuring our rangatahi can learn in high-quality, modern spaces that support their success.

An earlier Auckland school property announcement, which included new spaces for Ōrewa College and other schools, made it clear that additional capacity is needed across the region. 

The Coast deserves secondary learning environments that are warm, dry, flexible and future-focused. The Government has emphasised that the new classrooms are designed to be multi-purpose, collaborative and better suited to the way young people learn today. That aligns strongly with where we are heading as a school by creating spaces that encourage creativity, connection and curiosity, rather than rows, rigidity and one-size-fits-all teaching.

While buildings matter, it is what happens inside them that truly counts, and Coast parents have every reason to be proud as secondary education in our community is thriving. Our recent academic results were among the strongest we’ve ever seen. Achievement in NCEA continues to exceed national averages, and our learners are experiencing success in an increasingly diverse range of pathways: academic, vocational, cultural, sporting and service-based.

This is paired with a school culture that emphasises engagement, inclusion and opportunity. Whether it’s performing arts, environmental action in our community, top-level sport, kapa haka, robotics, service projects, or Trades Academy pathways, our young people are stepping forward with confidence, and our staff are working tirelessly to guide them there.

As our school continues to innovate – including in areas like digital learning, literacy, wellbeing, Māori success and vocational pathways – modern spaces will help us deliver on the aspirations of our community and the potential of every learner.

With the right spaces, the right people and the right community behind them, there is no limit to what our rangatahi can achieve.

Together, we are building more than classrooms. We are building futures.