New Kahika building stands tall at Hurunui school
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
Indigenous trees and birds feature permanently in a new look North Canterbury school.
Pupils at Leithfield School, south of Amberley, can’t wait to move into the new $2.5 million Kahika building in term two.
‘‘They’re very excited. You should have seen them pressing their faces against the glass when the fences came down,’’ principal Rob Cavanagh said.
Kahika, short for the native kahikatea tree, has been chosen as part of a cultural narrative from Te Rūnanga o Tūāhuriri.
Buildings at the school were named after trees and classes after birds.
‘‘As the kahikatea stands proud in our native forests, this will stand proud in our community,’’ Cavanagh said.
The new building provided space for up to 100 pupils, with four teaching spaces, break out rooms, a communal area, multi-purpose wet room and a balcony overlooking the school gardens.
‘‘It is fantastic. We will be able to grow into this space, so we will be well future proofed,’’ Cavanagh said.
‘‘It is just a wonderful resource.’’
He said it had been a long process, with one class utilising the school hall as a classroom for the last year and a term.
‘‘The hall is a great space for PE, assemblies and performing, but it is not so good for learning.’’
The communal space was big enough to hold full school assemblies, he said.
The school was experiencing steady growth with five teachers and was expected to pass 120 pupils by the end of this year.
The other classrooms were in the process of being refurbished to set the school up for the future.
Former principal Sharon Marsh returned to the school last week to see the completed project first hand.
‘‘I saw the plans and I came a couple of times when it was being built, but I saved coming inside until now," she said.
‘‘We put in so much time talking to principals and teachers to see what works and what doesn't work and gathering all that information,
so it is exciting to see it finally completed.’’
Kalle
"Sports and travelling run in the family, and that's kind of what's led me to come to New Zealand."
"I grew up in a small town in Finland. My dad was involved with sports all his life, he was a shot putter, discus thrower, powerlifter, we traveled quite a bit when I was a kid. He never mentioned much of the rugby days. He just said he broke both of his shin bones playing rugby, so he said, ‘never play the sport, It's crazy.’
I started playing when I was 18. I played my first cap for the Finnish national team in 2014, we won the Finnish championship with my club. Rugby is not a big thing in Finland.
I moved here to play rugby in 2017. The club that wanted me to come over was Methven Rugby Club. They got me here and they were like, ‘what do you do for work? I’d just finished chef school in Finland. ‘We'll get you a job at Mount Hutt as a chef, you can do that while you play rugby with us.’ I said, ‘Perfect. Yeah, I'm in’.
I've always loved food. My mum was an amazing cook, and still is. When I was studying tourism I worked in some hotels in Finland, and I saw how the chef's worked. I just loved the kitchen vibe and I was like, Yeah, that’d be something I'd love to do.
I've had more of a culinary journey In New Zealand than in Finland. I started at Mount Hutt, after that I worked at The Dubliner in Methven. I worked as a senior pizza chef at Sal’s for maybe six months then worked as chef de partie at Cellar Door. At Eliza's Manor, I worked myself up to a junior sous chef. Then the opportunity came to work my first head chef job at Moon Under Water.
We're privileged to have a busy atmosphere, we can try new things and get a bit creative. There are no TV’s, just come here with your family or with your mates, play board games, to socialise.
I really want to drive the local food and ingredients through the menu. We don't mind spending more for quality ingredients as long as it's supporting New Zealand businesses. We just love to use local. And it's pub food, but I feel like it's elevated.
I play club rugby here for the Christchurch Football Club, the oldest club in New Zealand and I still play regularly for the Finnish national team, whenever they can fly me over to play."
- Kalle
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
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Family Friendly Service and Discussion
Note change of time from summer start time.
Next family-friendly monthly service - Sunday, 6 October - at the Ashley Community Church. The gathering will start at 3.30 pm with a shared afternoon tea. Remember to bring something to share!
Also remember to go before you come as there is no toilet on site.
Enquiries to Paul or Lesley, Ph 021 140 2074
39 Canterbury St, Ashley.
Poll: Is it okay to grocery shop in your PJs?
I'm sure you've seen it while doing your weekly shop... In fact, it may have even been you.
What do you think about people heading to the supermarket in their pyjamas?
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14.3% It's fine!
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75.1% It's questionable
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10.6% Other - I'll share below
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