More than a year after the old building was demolished, Cromwell College’s new art and technology block is up and running.

Principal Mason Stretch said in a school newsletter it had taken 13 months to get to this point.

A whakawātea (blessing) for the whare was led by Matua Darren Rewi from Queenstown on the morning of March 20.

College staff, prefects and the kapa haka group supported the mahi of ‘clearing’ the spaces for use by everyone.

“Ngā mihi to our Māori Pasifika Pou Hadley Farquharson for supporting the blessing with mihi and karakia and thank you to all involved for the tautoko (support).”

The food technology room will be fully operational and available at the start of next term, and an official opening and naming is planned for term two as well. 

The new building is home to classes in computer studies, graphics and design, art, technology, materials and STEM. 

Pupils have moved into the new building for technology classes. PHOTO: Cromwell College Facebook 

A glimpse inside the food technology space. PHOTO: Cromwell College Facebook 

The original metalwork and woodwork classrooms were demolished back in mid-December 2023. PHOTO: Supplied 

Mason said the new building was functional, had a lot of natural light and a sense of calm and wairua (spirit) within it. 

The new art and technology block. PHOTO: The Central App

The C block classrooms are to be refurbished and available later in term two. 

Cromwell College has been on its current Barry Ave site since 1984. It began in 1978 with the change from Cromwell District HIgh School into a Year 7 to 13 college. 

The school motto is Deserve Success, and Whāia te taumata – pursue the highest peaks, is the whakatauki (guiding proverb).

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