SUPER MINISTRY
The thinking behind those building plans
By Charles Pitt

One of the two concept plans for a new Ministry of Education building.

One of the two existing buildings.(left). Crack appearing in structure (right)

Two concept plans have been produced for a building to house a new, expanded Ministry of Education head office. But no costings have been done and no Cabinet submission has yet been prepared.
Director of Audit and Quality, Peter Etches, told the Times that Government plans to eventually bring all educational and learning agencies together under a new super ministry for education.
This will require developing a new head office to house around 55 staff.
Both plans would be discussed at the Principals’ conference next week, said Etches, and public input would also be sought.
He said the policy framework to see the ministry through the next 15 years or so is quickly coming together
At present, 40 staff are working in two old buildings.
LAND
Etches said the Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) has made land in front of the Teachers’ College available for a new building.
Back in May this year he raised the matter of doing a “concept plan” for a new building.
This he discussed with curriculum advisor Ian George. He arranged for a group of architectural students from Melbourne University to come over and work on a plan.
Etches said 18 final-year students arrived. Three did a social impact survey and the remaining 15 split into three groups to work on concept plans. This they did as a project for one of their university papers.
ENERGY
Two different concept plans were produced. Both plans incorporated energy producing and saving principles and the buildings were environmentally friendly. Energy producing devices included solar panels and small windmills.
Etches stressed that no submission has yet been put to Cabinet and that there’s always the possibility the project may not be approved.
He said once a concept was decided on, it would be referred to an architect to do a proper design. This could be an 18-month process, he said.
No costing has been done and Etches estimates the cost could run as much as $5 million. For this exercise, Etches said the approach is to give priority to the design.
ISSUES
He said there were still a number of issues to resolve.
For instance, the concept plan does not appear to cater for the disabled and the designs did not appear to provide much hurricane proofing. In one concept the cantilever roof may not withstand hurricane force winds.
If Cabinet grants the go ahead, Etches said funding would most likely be sought from NZAid. He said it was unlikely any approach would be made to the Chinese for financial assistance.
Of the two current buildings, the secretariat, admin, finance, communications and audit – half of the staff (20)- are in the upper building
The lower building houses operations staff in with the Teachers’ Training College.
The upper building was originally the single men’s quarters for workers from the company Gammon and Mills, contractors on the airport in 1972.
Later, it was used as accommodation for up to 22 outer islands students attending Tereora College. The building then was extended to include a kitchen and dining room. It was closed in the middle 1980s.
The Ministry of Education did not have a home. It was originally part of “Social Services” which included Health under Dr Joe Williams and was based in Tupapa. In the early 1990s the Education unit split off and moved to the Aitutaki Hostel and in 1993 it moved to its present accommodation in Tereora.
FLOOR
In 1996/97 the upper building was condemned by the Ministry of Works. It was not structurally sound. Since then a new plywood floor has been installed and the building re-painted.
Etches says having the Ministry in two separate buildings is an inconvenience but they are coping. He also said roof beams had recently started shifting and there were cracks appearing. (See photo).
If the country is to get the best out of its public servants, it cannot continue to house them in sub-standard and condemned accommodation. That is also unsafe and unhealthy.
If aid funding is available for this project, government must progress it along.

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