Tiniroto School rebuild ‘will see us well into the future’

OPEN FOR LEARNING: Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz cut the ribbon to open Tiniroto School’s new buildings. She is pictured with students Theo Alley, Serenity Lewis, Te Waihirere Kingi, Lexie Alley, AJ Kawenga, Rowena Lewis, Maia Law, Kaupariera Lewis, Tyla Kawenga, Aznar Stevens, Zavien Stevens and Bella Alley.

At over 128 years old Tiniroto School looks as sharp as ever, thanks to two new buildings on the school site.

A who’s who of the community attended the opening of the buildings.

“You don’t get a new school every day,” said Tiniroto School board of trustees chairwoman Jen Alley.

The school was in need of a rebuild, with the previous buildings being over 70 years old, she said.

The new structures are the third permanent buildings for the school.

One is a large classroom, the other an administration building with a kitchen facility.

“It’s a great thing for our community,” said Mrs Alley. “As a small rural community, it means a lot to us that the Ministry of Education has invested in our community.”

Tiniroto School, about 45 minutes out of Gisborne, has a roll of 12 students from new entrants to Year 8.

The highest roll the school has recorded is 38 students in 1998.

“It’s pretty neat to have a new building with the facilities the kids need and deserve, and will see us well into the future,” Mrs Alley said

“We’re delighted. It’s a fantastic building and everything that we need. It’s something that the kids and community are proud of.”

The first permanent school was built on Tiniroto Hill overlooking the Lake Rotokaha in 1893. The current school is situated near that site.

Tiniroto School was also used for church services and dances before the Ruakaka Station wool shed (now Tiniroto Hall) was built.

“The school is an important and central hub for the community,” said Mrs Alley.

It was an asset for nearby farmers to attract workers with families, she said.

“We’ve also upgraded the court and got solar heating for the school pool, and those are facilities the wider community can access.”

Kaumatua Richard Niania blessed the school and Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony.

Both were gifted a copy of the book Tiniroto: A Slice of Paradise, which was compiled for the school’s 125th reunion in 2017.

The opening also featured the planting of a camellia tree for former student Evangeline (Evie) Wicks, a former student who passed away years ago and whose parents were teachers at the school.

Evie’s original remembrance tree was damaged in the rebuild.

“We’re all really happy with the new buildings,” principal Sue Cuthbert said.

“It’s a good, modern learning environment for the way we teach these days.

“It’s not sitting upright in chairs looking at the front any more.”