The project has been driven by Far North Holdings and Far North Mayor Wayne Brown as part of an initiative designed to maximise the value to the community of the buildings and assets displaced by the construction of the multi-purpose Te Ahu.
"The intention is to create an integrated campus at a single location, focusing on providing a high-quality learning environment that meets the needs of the students and incorporates as many education providers as possible," FNHL chief executive Andrew Nock said.
"Until now, tertiary education providers in Kaitaia have been dispersed in various buildings across the community. There are no common areas for students to interact, and the environment is not particularly encouraging for new students.
"By co-locating providers it is going to be possible to offer a comprehensive range of courses on a single site, with a landscaped common area and facilities that should appeal to prospective students. The overall vision is to elevate the profile of tertiary education in the Far North and at Kaitaia in particular."
The integrated facility would allow education providers to reduce building maintenance and operating costs by sharing reception, administration, classroom and kitchen facilities. It was also hoped that the new environment would spark an increase in student numbers, which in turn would allow a more diverse range of courses to be offered and the facilities further improved.
The first stage of the development has been to refurbish the building now occupied by Kiwidotcom.
NorthTec will begin moving some of its courses across to the new campus at the beginning of next year. In the meantime, it is involved in the renovation of buildings at the new campus.
Tertiary education providers will also be looking to play a major role in the construction of classrooms and buildings at the new campus, providing a practical adjunct to the construction, joinery, design, painting and decorating courses offered to students.
"This is expected to have the added advantage of giving students a heightened sense of involvement and ownership," Mr Nock said.
EnthusiasmMr Brown told Tuesday's function that the old service centre had once been a place where people "came to be grumpy", but no more. He was delighted to welcome Ms Snelling, whose "absolute enthusiasm" had always impressed him, and NorthTec, which had been "hovering" for some time before this opportunity arose.
"There is more to come, but this is a great step forward," he said. In fact the council's vacating of the building had been the first "faltering" step towards building Te Ahu, a wonderful asset for the whole of the Far North.
"This is a small step towards lifting the performance and educational achievement of our people," Mr Brown added.
"It is the kernel of something really worthwhile. Education and jobs are the keys to progress, and we have some really good educators up here.
"And now we are poised to take advantage of the new spirit among the iwi as they step towards their settlement journeys to economic success. These partnerships will benefit the whole Far North, and (a building) that not long ago looked like a lost soul will become a vibrant hub."
NorthTec chief executive Paul Binney noted that the institution already had more than 300 full-time students in Kaitaia, and more part-time, and agreed that the new facility represented a major step forward.
"We have some staff who are really happy that this is happening," he said.
"We all have responsibility for lifting aspirations and expectations, and this will go a long way to achieving that."
