Haka for a new college

Northland College students perform a spontaneous haka after hearing they will finally get a new school.

Seconds after Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced a $14 million rebuild of Kaikohe's Northland College - which was earlier this year described as having the worst classrooms in New Zealand - senior students advanced towards her and performed a powerful, spontaneous haka.

Watch the video here:

Construction will begin in 2016 next to the current college and is due to be completed in February or March 2017.

As well as new classrooms the project includes a new gym/hall, flexible learning areas, space for roll growth to 450 from the current 290, and new changing rooms for the community pool.

Of the current college complex, only the recently renovated administration block and one other building will be retained. The rest will be bulldozed.

While in Kaikohe today Ms Kaye also met a group of senior students to hear their concerns and ideas for improving education at the decile one school.

She pledged to come back in six weeks' time for an update.