It was a year in the making, but on Thursday 30 June, the WGHS Event Centre was officially opened by former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy.

Originally scheduled for 20 August 2021, plans for the Centre’s Grand Opening were snaffled when New Zealand went into lockdown just two days prior. Thankfully we had held a special blessing the week before, and once lockdown ended, the Centre was used for a range of end-of-year activities.

Dame Patsy stepped down as Governor-General, but we were still keen to host her at the Centre – after all, her name is on the plaque in the foyer! She agreed to come in a private capacity in June, and the ball was once again rolling to organise a Celebration, rather than a Grand Opening.

The guest list included foundation pupils and other alumni, Board members, Ministry of Education representatives, key community leaders, donors to the school, staff, students and most importantly a myriad of people involved with the design and building of the Event Centre including reps from Teak, Athfield Architects, BQH, Octa, ecubed, and WSP.

Caitlin Jenkins and Kaianne Henare, as kaikaranga, made their first-ever ceremonial call, welcoming the Official Party which included Principal Jane Stanley and her husband, Board Chair Joy Bradfield, Head and Deputy Head Prefects Ivy Mitchell and Ella Dorward, Board members and Senior Leadership Team members.

What followed was an hour of celebration with performances by our Kapa Haka group, Cantare choir and the Westlake Symphony Orchestra. Several speeches highlighted the long journey to reach the day’s celebrations. Dame Patsy and Jane Stanley then unveiled the plaque, cut the cake and officially declared the Centre open!

You can check out the ceremony on our YouTube Channel HERE

Photos by Aimee Wheeler and students Ivy Tan (Year 13) and Lauren Pomfrett (Year 12)

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