$67,000 Digital Upgrade Transforms Whakatāne Intermediate Auditorium

Whakatāne Intermediate School has completed the final stage of its auditorium upgrade, with the installation of a state-of-the-art digital wall made possible through a $66,449 grant from Trust Horizon.

The school’s auditorium is a well-used community facility, hosting everything from weekly assemblies and school productions to open evenings, AIMS Games celebrations, and community hui. But after years of heavy use, the ageing projector had reached the end of its life.

“The projector required regular small repairs just to keep it functioning,” said principal Michael Webster. “It cut out during a production rehearsal for the school’s 2025 show, and even got to the stage where we couldn’t be sure it would turn on for school assemblies.”

The installation of the digital wall marks the completion of an extensive refurbishment project. Stage one, carried out over the 2024/2025 summer holidays, included repainting, recarpeting, and reupholstering the seating. The school also installed a new sound and lighting desk, splitter box, and 12 second-hand LED house lights gifted by Trident High School.

When looking for a replacement projector, a digital wall system emerged as the ideal option. The wall is durable, water-resistant, energy-efficient, and has an expected lifespan of around 100,000 hours—roughly 10 years. With about 600 students enrolled each year, around 6,000 Whakatāne Intermediate students are expected to benefit from the upgrade over its lifetime.

The production, shipping, and installation of the wall totalled almost $67,000, prompting the school to apply to Trust Horizon for support. The grant was approved, and several months later, the digital wall was installed—much to the surprise of staff.

“I told the team the auditorium was out of bounds for the week due to electrical work,” Webster said. “The wall was installed by the end of the Friday, and when we walked into the auditorium the following Monday there were some really shocked and excited faces. It was quite a cool moment, a very nice surprise.”

Staff and students have responded enthusiastically to the upgrade. Teachers are appreciating being able to move freely across the stage without casting shadows on the display, while students have likened it to a “big flat-screen TV.”

“We used to have to turn all the lights off to see the old projector picture properly. Now the picture is bright and crystal clear, even with the lights on,” said Webster. “We’re really proud of our school, and this wonderful piece of equipment has made us even more so.”

Trust Horizon chair David Glover said the project reflects the organisation’s focus on supporting community pride. “Whakatāne Intermediate has shown tremendous commitment to improving the facilities for their 600 students, and the benefits of this new equipment will be felt by many in the school community. The Trust is pleased to support the school to continue to provide a quality education and modern learning environment.”

Without Trust Horizon’s support, Webster said the school would have faced years of saving and fundraising to complete the upgrade. “Because of Trust Horizon we were able to make it happen now, for today’s students to enjoy,” he said. “Our refurbished auditorium is now a high-quality venue, and the digital wall brings it all together. We extend our sincerest thanks to Trust Horizon for making it possible.”