The Wakatipu’s only secondary school is officially in "final form".
Yesterday, more than 100 Wakatipu High School and wider Queenstown community members gathered to celebrate the completion of the school’s upgrades and construction, years in the making.
Chairman of the school board Adrian Januszkiewicz cut the ribbon in front of the main reception entrance, joined by principal Oded Nathan, who took over the role from Steve Hall last year.
Mr Nathan shared the history of the school, including an anecdote about a visit by a foundation pupil who attended what was Queenstown District High School at its original campus in the town centre in 1937.
He had counted 23 pupils in its foundation year photo, far fewer than the current roll of just over 1300.
That number was expected to increase to the campus’ 1800 capacity within the next seven years, prompting the need for either a new school in the area, independent of WHS, or a second campus.
Mr Lewers said the opening was a "huge milestone for the community" and he sensed an air of excitement and anticipation from the staff.
With one son already attending and another on his way, Mr Lewers joked he was keeping a close watch on the school’s vision of "delivering Aotearoa New Zealand’s best all-round education".
Yesterday’s opening marked the completion of the school’s second and final phase of expansion — approved in 2019 — though construction was actually finished earlier this year.
The design for the existing Wakatipu High started in 2014, it opened four years later and took nine years to be fully completed.
