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Signature Homes build NZ's first Green Star rated Kura Kaupapa
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Signature Homes have recently completed an exciting project at Matauri Bay in the Far North of New Zealand – the establishment of a brand educational facility (Kura Kaupapa) for the Maori children of the area.
The school, which took over a decade to come to fruition, was opened on the 5th of May, in the presence of over 1400 people including other Kura Kaupapa from all over New Zealand, a number of key Ministry of Education staff and representatives from Signature Homes Ltd., CEO Phillip Howe and manager of the project Richard Keuning.
The day was the culmination of a lot of hard work and a very proud and emotional moment for all those associated with the project.
The school is an environmentally sustainable design project, which has now been given 5-Star certification by the Green Building Council of New Zealand - the first Kura Kaupapa to receive this rating. A few examples of the green features which have been implemented are:
Solar power
Smart lighting (this turns itself off when not in use)
Low emission, eco-friendly paints and floor coverings
Reduced use of PVC
Eco friendly glare control i.e. blinds
Edible gardens and extensive use of native trees and shrubs
During the project, Signature Homes ensured that the key stakeholders had much input into the layout and materials used in the construction of the school, and a lot of thought went into how the design would eventually fit in with the local environment and community, and how it could best serve its purpose of providing its students with not only a world class education, but a solid grounding in their Maori language and culture.
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