Southwell old boy Te Arikinui Kingi Tūheitia opens new block

Special guests Murray and Ann Day and old boy Te Arikinui Kingi Tuheitia with the Southwell head prefects and some of the Year 2-4 students who will be using the new block.

Southwell's new teaching block for Years 2, 3 and 4 was last week opened by Southwell old boy Te Arikinui Kingi Tūheitia (Southwell student 1964-68).

Guests from Hamilton's business, arts and sporting communities also attended.

The new build has proudly been named The Murray and Ann Day Building in honour of the Day family who have contributed significantly to the Waikato, Hamilton and Southwell communities over a lifetime.

Murray and Ann have had a long involvement with the school with Murray being an old boy (1939-44). Murray and Ann sent their two sons there and are both fellows of the school.

The school says the new block is an exceptional purpose built educational facility which includes six classrooms with breakaway and multi-purpose areas that epitomise Southwell's commitment to small class sizes and a personalised education which caters for individual and small group learning.

The new building, covering more than 900sq m, was designed by architects de Lisle Jenkins who have been involved with previous Southwell building projects.

"Southwell prides itself on offering an educational experience designed to inspire individual achievement, strong personal values and confidence for life. This new facility enhances the world-class all-round education further for Southwell children," the school says.

Southwell is an iconic Waikato Independent co-educational Anglican boarding and day school, for children aged 5 to 13 years, set in 32 acres of park like grounds in the heart of Hamilton City.

It is the oldest independent school in the Waikato, opening in 1911 and is New Zealand's only co-educational primary day and boarding school.