In the loop

This month, to help meet the needs of our rapidly growing population, two new local primary schools have opened their doors: Ahutoetoe School in Milldale and Nukumea Primary School in north-west Orewa. Maps showing the enrolment zone of each school can be accessed via https://www.educationcounts. govt.nz/find-school. We wish the foundation staff and pupils of both schools all the very best for a successful first year in 2023.

The new local secondary school originally earmarked for opening ‘in approximately 2025’ is now being planned towards an opening ‘between 2026 and 2030’, according to an update from Sam Fowler, Head of Property at the Ministry of Education (land has been acquired for this purpose by the Ministry of Education on Upper Orewa Road, Wainui).

For Orewa Primary School, term one will be their last with long-serving principal Diane Lambert, who will be retiring. The school board have appointed Claire Janes, currently deputy principal at Belmont Intermediate, as Orewa Primary School’s new principal from the start of term two.

In December last year the first sod was turned on construction of O Mahurangi – Penlink, the new highway link between the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and State Highway 1. Refinements have been made to the planned road layout around the entrance to the new highway that impact Whangaparaoa Road and Beverley Road. Details of the new layout can be viewed here https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/ penlink/key-design-refinements/.