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Regional | Education

Tarawera High School opens new school facilities

Tarawera High School can enjoy their modern new facilities after an injection of $15.6 million to redevelop the school which will cater for more than 500 students.

Education Minister Hekia Parata opens Tarawera High School's new modern facilities.  Facilities which include 33 new teaching spaces, a performing arts theatre and a hospitality suite to cater to its 500 and more students.

She says, "I'm really proud of Tarawera High School, because this new school has only been going for three years but each year education is lifting within the school."

In 2013, the passing rate for level one NCEA for Tarawera was one of the lowest in the Bay of Plenty region, sitting below 35%.  But in just two years they've turned it all around.

Tarawera's principal, Helen Tuhoro says, "The big difference for us is the increase in the NCEA Level 1 results moving from a low thirty percent to start with to 2015 results at level one 85%."

The school currently has a roll of 450, Reo Māori teacher Marissa Peters says their approach is not solely on the students but the entire community.

She says, "It was the dream of the tribes and families here, why?  To unite everyone when it comes to learning and education."

The new facilities cater for 525 students from Years 7 to 13 the students who have all this year to get use to the new venue.