Wairoa college expands

Wairoa College is to get a $5.7 million upgrade as it prepares to enrol about 170 intermediate-aged pupils for the first time next year.

The school will get a new, state-of-the-art technology block and about 20 new classrooms to replace old, substandard rooms.

Buildings to be demolished include a two-storey classroom block built in the early 1970s.

The college's new pupils will be from primary schools that until now educated children from years one to eight (new entrants to form two).

The college's roll is expected to jump from 500 this year to about 700.