Hāwea Flat School will celebrate the opening of eight new classrooms and a revamped bike park next month, despite the school’s future remaining uncertain.

The new buildings (four classrooms and toilet blocks along Kane Road and two classroom blocks with toilets at the end parallel to St Ninians Way) were built onsite, but school principal Tania Pringle said once completed they will be able to be moved as modular units in future if needed.

That remains a possibility after the Ministry of Education told the 141-year-old school a year ago that it may be moved to Lake Hāwea in the coming years.

Read more: Hāwea Flat School on the move?

Hāwea-based Queenstown Lakes District (QLDC) councillor Cody Tucker met recently with the QLDC and three representatives of the Ministry of Education for an update on the proposal.

Cody said the ministry’s acquisition team has yet “to build a business case with possible land options and present it to the minister for a decision”.

The build (pictured here in February) has now been all but completed.

“The new school is not a sure thing,” he said, adding there is no timeline for the process.

However, Cody said the council and ministry are working together “better than ever before” and the council’s Spatial Plan and future development strategy has the advantage of being able to look ahead 30 years rather than ten.

“... The process of [the school move] going ahead or not is going to come down to numbers and stats,” Cody said.

Meanwhile Tania told the Wānaka App the school will go ahead with making the most of its new facilities.

The updated area includes a portacom which had been used for classrooms. It has been moved to the end of the school grounds and will operate as a second Grandview (meeting room). There will also be a covered outdoor play area in the new triangular courtyard.

In addition, the school has a new wastewater plant, a drinking water upgrade, new fire alarms, and an electrical upgrade.

The changes required the removal of long standing pine trees, which the children were sad to lose, Tania said.

However, some of the junior classes came to her last year with ideas for natives to be planted there to attract more birds, so “the students have had some say in the new native planting”, Tania said.

The bulk of that landscaping will take place in spring.

The grand opening of the new areas will take place on Friday June 2 at 11.30am. It will include an opening ceremony, refreshments, and the opportunity to explore the new spaces. 

PHOTOS: Wānaka App