A touch of class in beach bus

A touch of class in beach bus

A community café, a classroom, a place where you can watch the ocean – they’re all on the back of a truck parked at the beach.

The “house truck” was built by students at Te Kura ā Iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano (WRM). It serves primarily as a koha-operated café for anyone who wants to drop in for a chat, a cup of tea or coffee, soup, sometimes fresh baking from the kura’s commercial kitchen, or just to sit and relax looking out over Ōtaki Beach. It’s also a remote English classroom for WRM senior students.

English teacher Adrian Leason says the idea grew out of philosophy discussions, with the rangatahi aware and concerned about social issues.

“The critical question was ‘what’s going on’,” Adrian says. “We talked about things like the cost of living crisis, food security, poor nutrition, homelessness and loneliness.

“Around that were the guiding principles of the kura – Ngā Mātāpono. The students were motivated to do something.”

At the same time, the kura was short of class-room space, with no prospect of government funding any time soon. So the students decided to build their own classroom, park it at the beach and offer a beautiful space for the community.

“It’s a young person’s response to a crisis they’ve identified that is real. They saw that people were missing out and feeling excluded from our community and society. It doesn’t need to be that way.

“It’s fun talking about good English literature while you’re parked at the beach,” Adrian says. “But you can also talk about what it means to be a really good human being and a contributing member of society – not focused on titles or salaries.”

With funds coming from sausage sizzles – and the pockets of teachers and parents – a flat-deck truck was bought and deposited on Adrian’s farm block in Bennetts Road. Students set to work finding and repurposing all sorts of building materials.

Pallets were broken down, fence rails deprived of nails, windows and doors scavenged, old carpet cleaned.

Through some school time, but mainly after hours and at weekends, the space gradually took shape from the deck up.

Now fitted out with drawers, tables and chairs, sofas and other furniture, it’s a cosy spot for study or relaxation. A deck outside the french doors facing the sea has benches and tables for visitors and students.

Run by parents and students, the space is open every day from about 7.30am until sunset.

“It’s spectacular here every minute of the day,” Adrian says. “I have tears in my eyes when I look at this kind of scenery.”