An announcement on the preferred site an independent school in Queenstown is imminent, following a meeting with the land owners in the resort last week.
Priority considerations for the independent school - mooted last year by Wentworth College principal Bruce Tong, of Auckland, Wentworth Property's Stephen Fleming and Queenstown liaison Lisa Guy - were the availability of infrastructure, size of the preferred site for future development, a location 15 minutes from Frankton and the support of key stakeholders.
At a working party meeting in Queenstown on Friday Mr Tong said it was hoped the school, to initially cater for 100 pupils in years 7, 8 and 9, would open within the ''next couple of years'', but that would be determined by land agreements, infrastructure, consents, finance, building and pupil ratios being achieved.
The proposed financial and operational model - used at Wentworth, Strathallan and Sunderland schools, all in the greater Auckland area, involved the formation of a Queenstown education property company (QTPS), which would include shareholders and directors.
The company would own the land and buildings and fund capital investment for a Queenstown Private School Education Trust.
That trust would establish a board of trustees, establish and operate the school and lease the land and buildings in a ''100-year lease'', paying rent to the property company.
Mr Tong said an investment portfolio would be developed to attract shareholders. Investment for stage one would be required to provide up to 10 classrooms.
At Friday's meeting, nine of the 13-member working party discussed various aspects of the proposed school, including a name, uniform, and the school's founding principles.
The school's name was still to be determined. Suggestions included William Rees, Peak, Aurum, Alta, Southern Lakes, Kawarau, Crown, Remarkable, and Queenstown and Lakes District.
The working party had also expressed a ''clear preference'' for a traditional quality school brand, with ''formal uniforms'', to include long skirts for girls and long trousers for boys in winter, shirts, ties and blazers.
''Formal colours'' were also favoured, reflecting the quality of the school and environment. Navy, black, schist, grey, green and silver were the leading options.
A school crest would also be developed to reflect the ''culture of the environment, values and founding principles of the school''.
The working party also discussed the foundation principles and visions for a co-educational, non-secular, domestic school.
These included an emphasis on academic achievement, using Cambridge qualifications, encouraging excellence and competition; and sustainable, green philosophies which would be incorporated in the design of the school and its operating practices.
Mrs Guy and Mr Tong could not be reached for further comment.
