#747 ... "Flying" Visitors

These students and their teachers were on a visit to the Capital City ... the night before they had spent the night at the Wellington Zoo .. for a sleepover ... but it should be noted that Auckland also has a great zoo. They were off to visit Parliament and the Beehive when I met them. Sunderland School name has some interesting 'flying' history behind it so have a look at the links to their website. Like most students ... the opportunity to have a photo taken was welcomed. Hope you guys all enjoyed your time in Wellington
Sunderland School ... a high quality independent School and College opened at the former Waitakere City Council complex in Waipareira Ave in Henderson in February 2007. Strategically located for convenient access for families in the western areas of Auckland, Sunderland is a secular, uniformed, co-educational day school, catering for primary school and secondary college students. Sunderland provides outstanding opportunities for academic, cultural and sporting achievement.

The Sunderland campus was originally proposed to be built on a ‘green fields’ site at Whenuapai. Work began on Sunderland in 2001 but despite strong support from Waitakere City Council resource consent was opposed by Auckland Regional Council. The project stalled at the Environment Court and efforts on that site are now abandoned.

Publicity about Sunderland generated keen interest, confirming the need for a major independent school in West Auckland. When the Waitakere City Council complex in Waipareira Avenue became available in June 2006 the Sunderland Education Trust identified it as an ideal school site and moved rapidly to secure the property. It features quality architect designed buildings situated on 3 hectares of established landscaped grounds. Because the site already has suitable zoning, refurbishments and fit-out was completed rapidly, meaning that Sunderland enrolled its first students for the start of the 2007 school year.

The name Sunderland is derived from the Sunderland flying boats which were based at Hobsonville and which are an integral part of the history of the district.