Waikato Times, October 2003
By Ann Graham

A revamp worth up to $55 million will give the Waikato Institute of Technology's (Wintec) Hamilton campuses a totally new look.

Wintecs' council has approved an upgrade which would see many existing buildings at its central city campus demolished, a three-storey carpark for more than 600 vehicles built and possibly student accommodation.

The central city campus will also get two new entrances on the corner of Ward and Anglesea and Collingwood and Anglesea Streets.

The project, designed by Hamilton architects Chow:Hill, would include a $10 million upgrade of Wintec's Avalon Dr campus in Te Rapa. Wintec has about 15,000 students on the campuses.

The council is awaiting results of a business case which would provide financial information for government approval of the project. But both council chairman Gordon Chesterman and Wintec chief executive Mark Flowers are confident the revamp will get the "green light".

Wintec is in a strong financial position. We're debt-free, have $16 million that would be spent on buildings over the next four years and another $10 million in the bank," Mr Chesterman said.

Wintec was also looking at developing partnerships with Waikato businesses and providing buildings for commercial opportunities, but it was not relying on money from sponsorship, he said. "We're projecting a surplus of about $2 million this financial year but it will be a great opportunity for private enterprises to participate with us. It may be that other institutes like Waikato University could have facilities on our site too."

"The city campus was like a fortress at the moment and the plans would open it up to the city and strengthen it as a community," Mr Chesterman said.

"I'd like to see it as more of a walk-through, live-on campus and I think we can get that with the boulevard type concept we've had designed. It would convert the campus into a student-friendly and city-friendly place," he said.

Mr Flowers will continue to talk with Waikato businesses and Tainui and hoped the project would be finalised in November.

"It would be a great step forward for Wintec. I'm confident we'll get the approval from Government. They've been concerned about the number of students and buildings we have on our city campus and this would meet those concerns.

"This development is essential to maintain our current level of students. If our site keeps being an old-fashioned one I think it could turn students elsewhere."

Wintec kaumatua Hare Puke said the redevelopment of the site would also take into account the mana of the hill to local Maori in pre-European times as the Ahurei (a place of traditional status).