The project to relocate and rebuild three Marlborough schools was formally renamed Te Tātoru o Wairau following a pōhiri at Omaka Marae in Blenheim on Friday (18 June).
Te Tātoru o Wairau was chosen by Te Tauihu iwi Ngāti Rārua, Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Ngāti Kuia, and means ‘weave the mauri and combine to achieve the purpose’ while also representing a three-plait rope, symbolising the three schools coming together as one construction project.
The design, development and construction of the new schools will be underpinned by ō tātou uaratanga (our values) that were also shared by iwi with a view to incorporate values already identified by the schools.
Ō tātou uaratanga are:
Whakapapa
Te Reo Māori
Ūkaipō
Kaitiakitanga
Manaakitanga
Rangatiratanga
Whanaungatanga
Kairangi
Kotahitanga
Te Tātoru o Wairau will see the two colleges relocated on the site currently occupied by Marlborough Girls’ College and Bohally Intermediate School. Bohally Intermediate will be relocated and rebuilt on the current Marlborough Boys’ College site on Stephenson Street.
Te Tātoru o Wairau is the Ministry of Education’s largest capital works project to date, and a major investment in the future of Marlborough’s intermediate and secondary education.
Te Tātoru o Wairau provides an opportunity for iwi to ensure the realisation of educational aspirations of whānau in the three new schools. Through partnering with the Ministry of Education and working closely with schools, community and contractors we can embed ngā uaratanga (values) in the project that create space for whānau to engage directly in the project to promote their educational, cultural, social, political, economic, and environmental goals.
Bohally Intermediate School Tumuaki/Principal Nicky Cameron-Dunn said the school was looking forward to working closely with local iwi, the Ministry of Education, and the wider community in creating a new learning environment for the young people of Marlborough to truly maximise their potential.
“We understand that this may be a long process but it is important that it meets our high expectations and the final school build is something we are very proud of,” Nicky Cameron-Dunn said.
Marlborough Boys’ College Tumuaki/Principal John Kendal said Te Tātoru o Wairau was an exciting opportunity for education in Marlborough.
“We’re partnering with the Ministry, iwi, whānau, hapu, Te Tumu and our community to develop a model in planning of school sites that hasn’t been done before,” John Kendal said.
“It is our goal to have our model looked towards as an exemplary model for other areas to use and to follow,” he said.
Marlborough Girls’ College Tumuaki/Principal Mary-Jeanne Lynch said the renaming on Friday was an exciting moment for the project.
“It’s the beginning of our journey to not only design and build new schools, but also to design a new way of education the youth of Marlborough that is a true partnership with iwi, so that all students succeed and realise their potential,” Mary-Jeanne Lynch said.
The Ministry of Education’s Associate Deputy Secretary, Property Delivery, Scott Evans, said the gifting of Te Tātoru o Wairau and values by iwi was a significant milestone in recognising iwi as a partner in the project.
“Te Tātoru o Wairau encapsulates the many strands of this project coming together to achieve the best outcome for each of the schools and the Marlborough community, and signifies the crucial role that iwi have in the success of the project,” Scott Evans said.
In February it was announced the master planning phase for Te Tātoru o Wairau would be led by Te Tumu, a consortium of construction specialists led by Naylor Love.
Master planning includes developing a big picture of how the schools and campuses will function both during the project and on its completion, as well as how the construction process will work.
Te Tumu Stakeholder Manager David Hopkins said that planning for the rebuild of three operational schools was a complex process. “Master planning is crucial to firstly detail what the space requirements are for the schools, and then determine how they will best fit on the new sites. This is then followed by architectural design and planning the construction process.”
Scott Evans said minimising disruption to teaching and learning at the three schools was a priority and would be a key focus of the project’s planning.
Design and master planning consultations with iwi and the schools begin at later this month and will run for the remainder of the year, with wider engagement opportunities also planned.