Garin College whare blessed

Million-dollar projects to accommodate Garin College’s roll increase will follow a newly-opened whare [gathering shelter] on Monday to represent its Māori and Catholic heritage.

Principal John Maguire says the college received $316,000 from the Essential Property Maintenance Package (EPMP) provided by the Ministry of Education and the Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools, in 2021.

He says, along with additional funds from parents and the Archdiocese of Wellington, it ticked off plans for the Te Wharemaru O Garin development which was led by a “steering committee” of students, staff, board members and Māori representatives.

“We had previously surveyed our staff and community around some essential needs at the college, and shelter from the elements was identified as the key area for development,” he says.

“The original idea was a fale which is your Pasifika equivalent [of a whare]… and that idea was extrapolated into this whare style.

“Garin College is a place of shelter and protection, protecting our story and curriculum, and so its people entering the whare are able to recognise our heritage as a Catholic school but also a school in Aotearoa.”

John says four new classrooms and a multipurpose centre were the next assignments after receiving $5.6 million from the Archdiocese of Wellington.

“Garin College has a got a property development plan in place now as we go towards our maximum roll, our maximum roll is 670 and we’re looking at around 635 next year plus our international students,” he says.

“Over the past two to three years we’ve seen it start to accelerate and I think that combines with the quality of education and learning environment we’re providing at Garin.

“We’re hoping that [the classrooms] will be finished around this time next year so they’ll be open in operation for the start of 2025, the multipurpose centre is likely to be built in 2025 and ready for opening, probably in 2026 or later in 2025.”