Papamoa's Tahatai Coast School is being largely rebuilt because of leaks that have rotted the structure.
Underway since January 6 is the total rebuild of one block comprising eight classrooms and the school's hall.

Tahatai Coast School dual principal Jenny Griggs says there is a silver lining to the demolition work.

Another four classroom block requires reframing and recladding. The roofs of both blocks have been removed and are now covered with tarpaulins.
'It is going to be a long project,” says dual principal Jenny Griggs.
'The classroom block is expected to be in use after two terms, which will permit pupils to move from some of the relocatable classrooms. We are hoping to have the hall back in use by the end of the year.”
Being denied the use of the hall has had a huge impact on the Tahatai Coast School's culture, says Jenny.
'There is nowhere else to put 700 plus students.”
Tahatai Coast School was built as a state of the art school in 1997. But times have changed and Jenny says the rebuild will enable the school's building footprint to be altered to allow more outside playing areas.
'So there will be some improvements. It was a good design of the time, but we have put some improvements in. It is like getting a second brand new school.”
The school's other principal and project manger, Ian Leckie, was away from the school today on other business.
The rebuild is expected to take about two years. Twelve classrooms including resource rooms and the library and dental clinic and two toilet blocks will have to be demolished.
The leaky building problem at the school has been a problem for years, but action began after the school featured in a Close-up television current affairs programme two years ago.