A well kitted out Hall for everyone in Karamea!

The blessing for the new Hall at Karamea Area School on 11th April was attended by students, staff, parents and community members. The youngest and eldest students of the school crossed the threshold first, guided by Iwi, and after waiata there were some speeches.

​​Kōwhai class fondly remember the opening ceremony for the new school which was held in the new full size hall:

The new hall is really big, it can fit the whole town in it!

Our new hall is by far the best hall ever!

We walked to the tennis court and heard a man from Ngati waewae make a speech. Then we walked around the new school. The classrooms are so big. Afterwards we all went into the new hall. It is enormous.

Everyone gathered at the tennis courts. It felt like it took forever for everyone to come. The youngest person led everyone inside. It was amazing. It is like a mansion.

We finally were able to see inside the new school. It was amazing. We went into the hall and there was a blessing. Then I led the Kapa Haka.

When I first saw inside the school I thought it was really cool. At the ceremony I felt like crying, they were such beautiful speeches.

I remember when we had the gathering and my parents were there. We all had a tour of the school and afterwards everyone was in the new hall for the speeches.

The hall is so big.

There’s no denying the new space is an incredible asset to the school and wider community, and is fast becoming the envy of others down the length of the Coast.

At the start of term 2 on 2nd May staff and students moved into the new school buildings and are working out how to use the new space.

One of the new changing rooms

KAS students years 3-13 had a pretty awesome day on 13th June playing Korfball in the new gym while the gale winds blew!

Friends of Karamea Area School (FoKAS) have been working behind the scenes to fundraise for the extras that will make the Karamea Area School Hall/Gym a state of the art venue for community events. So far a $8,209 grant from West Coast Community Trust along with some other generous donations have funded new audio equipment, and Buller District Council granted $21,000 for 150 new chairs and 10 trestle tables with a trolley.

Applications are underway to further funding bodies that can hopefully enable a fold up stage and carpet tiles to be purchased. We are calling for expressions of interest from builders for the design and construction of a community storage shed which will have enough space for community groups to store gear such as marquees and lighting - if you’re interested in this mahi please get in touch (karameacommunity@gmail.com), we would love to hear from you!

There is still quite a way to go in our fundraising efforts, and we are more likely to get funding from outside organisations if it can be shown the community, small as it is, is also pitching in with donations. Every little helps so please share our campaign far and wide and chip in if you can!

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Submitted by Liz Kerslake on behalf of Friends of Karamea Area School