Local MP Melissa Lee officially opened the Murray Nairn Building and was joined by members of Murray’s family, grandson David Hillier, daughter Wendy Innes and her husband John.
The Murray Nairn Building was officially opened on June 27, with local MP Melissa Lee doing the honours in a ceremony attended by invited guests, including members of Murray’s family.
Ms Lee unveiled the plaque commemorating the official opening and was guest speaker at the event, which celebrated our third Headmaster (1954-1969).
Murray Nairn
Mr Drumm welcomed guests and paid tribute to the work of ASC Architects and project managers Southbase Construction as well as Damien Strogen, of the Ministry of Education, who have supported the project all the way.
He said Murray would have enjoyed the “Tradition and Change” elements of the new building: the focus on excellent teaching spaces while incorporating a whare wananga for Te Puna o Wairaka.
MAGS Foundation Chair Peter Thorp, who was Head Boy in 1968 during Murray’s tenure, gave an insight into a headmaster who was always immaculately groomed and often clad in his academic robes and whom the students called ‘Nero’.
Mr Thorp said Murray, pictured right, was a man who was ambitious for the school, whether it be in its student achievements or his drive to get rid of prefab classrooms, which was successful for a time.
He added that Murray had strong values and a sense of fairness and decency; he sought and earned the respect of students.
The event wrapped up with a performance by the Centennial Choir before guests retired for refreshments.
The Murray Nairn Building will be the new home of the Social Sciences Department as well as housing a revamped Library and being a base for Te Puna o Wairaka.
It will not only provide MAGS with state-of-the-art teaching facilities but also mean some prefab classrooms can be removed to claw back green space for sports fields.
