A Māori boys boarding school that closed 20 years ago amid allegations of bullying is set to reopen.
St Stephen's (Tipene) holds a prominent location on Auckland's Bombay Hills and it will admit its first new cohort in 2025.
The school was condemned to a quarter of a century in the wilderness but it's returning, thanks in large part to the efforts of old boy Joe Harawira.
"No I never lost hope, it's been a lot of ups and downs," he said.
Its original walls are crumbling.
"It's in a bit of a sad state, it's not how I remembered it back in 1970-74 but the coals on the fire have been embers and we've just blown on to them and they've just come alight now," Harawira said.
The school opened in 1848, but in 2000 then-Education Minister Trevor Mallard closed it amid bullying allegations.
But after it was closed it did not lie idle, used as a film set for the Netflix series Sweet Tooth and the Army even used it for target practice.
Alumni like actor Wassie (Waihoroi) Shortland remember the school fondly.
"At the time of closure the world overtook us because we hadn't adapted to it," he said.
"And we've waited 23 years to have this matter revitalised, re-energised, restarted because the reasons for closure were never good enough."
Lessons will start for the first small cohort in new buildings in 2025 but all the time they'll be working on the old buildings and it's hoped they'll be restored to their former glory by 2030.
The Coalition Government's promising to support the new-look Saint Stephen's, also known as Tipene.
New principal Nathan Durie said there's never been a better time.
"To particularly focus on this cohort, Māori boys who are not served well - in fact, it's horrible what happens in the education system for this cohort," he told Newshub.
A new beginning, a new hope to enable those young Māori boys to dream of a brighter future.
