A rousing kapa haka performance echoed around the brand new building as Shotover Primary School officially opened its new $3.49million classroom block yesterday.
The building will give the over-capacity school some breathing space - but it will not be long before work begins on another building to cater for roll growth.
Speaking ahead of yesterday morning's opening, which also featured a blessing from Bluff-based kaumatua Bubba Thompson, principal Ben Witheford said the school was starting term three with a roll of 510.
The new classroom space would allow that to grow to 650, a figure Mr Witheford expected the school to hit by the end of 2019.
"We're over capacity by 50 pupils at the moment - ideally we would have had this open six months ago,'' he said.
Further capacity is expected to be provided with Stage Three of the school build, which will start in January.
The school, which caters for years 1-8 pupils, first opened at the start of 2015.
The new building is an innovative learning environment featuring open class spaces and a kitchen.
At the opening ceremony, Mr Thompson said he was present at the initial opening of the school.
"It's good to come back and not be surprised how it's grown, in terms of students, because I remember asking how many students were here, and I couldn't get over how many there were, and of course now there's even more.''
