A whakawatea karakia ki te whenua (blessing of the land) was held on September 12 at the site where the new building is being constructed at Katikati College. This was followed by a ceremonial turning of the earth.

This new building will provide a state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility for the College, community and other training providers, supporting horticulture education at a new level.  The design is simple, flexible and practical. A large part of the building will be used as a flexible learning space, with smaller breakout rooms and resource rooms available for special projects and group work. There is also a kitchen and toilet/shower facilities.

The 240 square metre building also has a 60 square metre covered outdoor area. Large doors open out onto the existing horticultural gardens, which have been extended out to the west, with students building the new raised garden beds themselves. Once the Horticulture Centre is complete, students will design and build a new potting shed. The existing 80 square metre glasshouse and shade house facility has been partly refurbished over the last two years.

The $650,000 needed to build and equip the Centre has been fundraised by the Katikati Innovative Horticulture Trust from growers, packhouses, other industry players, the community and private individuals. The building will be owned by the Trust, but is being built on Ministry of Education-owned Katikati College land, with a Memorandum of Understanding having been signed by the Trust and the College Board of Trustees. It is a truly collaborative project.

The Trust is working alongside project managers Tectum Consulting and local company, Steel Shed Systems, which is constructing the building.

The new Katikati Innovative Horticulture Centre is expected to be operational for the beginning of 2023. For further information please contact  kkhort_trust@katikaticollege.school.nz

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