Hon Nikki Kaye
Associate Education Minister
20 August 2014 Media Statement
$4m technology block for Northcross Intermediate
Work to address weathertightness issues is now complete with today’s opening of a $4 million technology block at
Northcross Intermediate School in Auckland, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye says.
The two-storey building features a food and nutrition technology kitchen, a sound and light-proof media suite with green
screen capability, hard and soft technology workshops, and a graphics studio.
“This impressive new space boasts modern learning spaces for students and staff, providing a fresh approach to learning
and teaching,” says Ms Kaye.
“The purpose-built specialist teaching areas will allow students to embrace technology disciplines such as food and
nutrition, biotechnology, design and hard materials.”
The building has been specifically designed to create flexible learning spaces that allow students to work individually
and collaboratively, Ms Kaye says, and incorporates ICT infrastructure along with environmentally sustainable
initiatives such as natural ventilation and lighting.
“It provides a warm, healthy and modern learning environment with safe, contemporary spaces to help inspire students to
learn.”
The block was built to the Ministry of Education’s modern learning environment standard as part of its Building
Improvement Programme, which was set up in 2009 to manage the testing and remediation of school buildings affected by
water damage.
About 320 buildings at approximately 200 schools throughout New Zealand have so far been remediated or rebuilt,
resulting in modern learning environments that support modern teaching styles, Ms Kaye says.