New school shrouded in secrecy

The $45 million language school wants to offer students a new approach - to help them with their 'character development'. Photo / Janna Dixon

With its locked gates and sentry post, it looks more like a low-security prison than a language school - and that may be intentional.

The trust behind the Waihi Academy of Studies, a $45 million Taiwanese-funded complex on more than 50ha of farmland, said the remote location was chosen to stop Asian students getting into trouble in cities.

Shrouded in secrecy since building started five years ago, an open day will be held for Hauraki district councillors and journalists next week.

Trustee Bernard Jan said it would allow intermediate and high school students, mainly from overseas, to study in an environment where they would not succumb to the temptations of city life or become victims of crime.

"In some cities around the world there have been problems or trouble so we offer a different experience, something to help with their character development," he said.

"We hope that students experience different feelings here than they would elsewhere."

The academy has been built by The Flying Phoenix Trust, an organisation made up of Taiwanese people now citizens in New Zealand.

Finance was raised from investors in Taiwan who offered loans at low interest rates.

Resource consent granted in 2002 allows 320 students to be based there. Fifty students spent a month there during a trial in March and 50 more will arrive next month.

The centre opens officially next year and the day-to-day running will be handled by an agency yet to be chosen.

High gates guard the almost-finished palatial buildings midway down dead-end Landlyst Rd in rural Waihi.

The trust has also bought a string of farms on the road, giving them more than 50ha of land around the school.

"Once we have more students coming I think some of the mystery will be gone," said Jan.

New arrivals will stay at the academy before being given the option of lodging with local families.

Many lessons will be at surrounding schools, although the complex will host certain activities.

The chairman of language school association English New Zealand, Rob McKay, was surprised such a large centre was opening in a rural area.

"It's possible they have found a niche no one has found or looked at before."

Many residents said they knew little about the centre but Hauraki Mayor John Tregidga expected that to change.

"I have asked [the trust] to open it for councillors and the media for a day with the view there can be a public open day later in the year."

He said there would be a spinoff for local colleges and hoped there would be one for the community too.

Chris Bowden, a lecturer from Victoria University's school of educational psychology and pedagogy, said he could understand the logic behind the choice of location, particularly if the centre was catering for Asian students from rural areas.

"Good pastoral care and keeping a connection to their culture can be beneficial for young overseas students."

Criminal cases

* In March, five Chinese students were charged for importing and possession for supply of pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in P.
* Last year, Korean student Tae Won Chung, 17, stabbed teacher David Warren in the back at Avondale College.
* Auckland Grammar pupil Zhu Kuan, 17, appeared in court in October on charges of importing Contact NT and money laundering.
* In 2007, students Cui Xiangxin and Li Zheng were found guilty of murdering Wan Biao, stuffing his body in a suitcase and dumping it at sea. They were sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in jail.