An early morning blessing heralded new beginnings for the latest Te Wānanga o Aotearoa site in Tauranga.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa tauira and kaimahi in the Bay of Plenty will begin 2016 in their new and state of the art campus on 17th Ave.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa facilities manager Bruce Nunns said the 2000 square metre facility represented an important step forward for the tertiary provider in the Bay of Plenty.
“It is a vastly improved space for our tauira and kaimahi,” he said.
“The teaching spaces are looking really good and incorporate both very modern teaching and building technologies including a building management system that includes occupancy sensor controlled lighting, heating and cooling.”
“These are all things that our kaimahi and tauira will really appreciate.”
“It is a significant investment in our tertiary facilities and a long-term education commitment to the people of Tauranga.”
Te Taiurungi Jim Mather and Te Waenga Hoe Whakatere Jocelyn Mikaere were among the gathering at the karakia to bless the new site last Friday.
TWoA kaimahi in Tauranga began transitioning to their new workplace yesterday.
The new site has purpose-designed raranga teaching and workshop spaces, a small gym and a cafeteria.
Bruce says it is also noho-compliant making it fully capable of hosting groups of people for overnight stays.
The $3.6 million development by CBC Construction was completed on schedule and will house more than 800 tauira.
The new site is in the Tauranga Business Park opposite the Historic Village.