Breakfast Meeting, Charlotte McKeon
Tuesday 19 May 2026
Trade Academy teacher Charlotte McKeon was introduced by OTHC principal Nick Coughlan - who also took the opportunity to update us on progress with the new classroom block, rising so speedily and efficiently at the front of the school. It will be ready for use in term 4.
Many of us had seen the latest TV feature on the second $1 house to be delivered for refurbishment - and Charlotte opened her presentation by taking us back to the delivery of that original Kainga Ora, end of life house, where the thermal envelope was so poor that a blower test produced 19 air changes per hour.
The Homestar rating theme will be repeated for the smaller, former Keith Hay house of 73m, but the focus this time will be on zero bills, while the Board of Trustees will retain ownership of the 2 bedroom house and plan to use this accommodation as an inducement for recruiting teachers in hard to staff areas.
Although this second house was built in the 1990s, it has identical thermal envelope issues, while Charlotte demonstrates exceptional skills in attracting media attention for innovative Trade initiatives - real inducement for the broad range of sponsorship she achieves. The highly relevant theme for this Homestar refurbishment will be Zero bills! Future Energy has already provided a $25k sponsorship – and Octopus Energy will be among the wide range of project partners, both old and new.
Charlotte advised that 110 students in the Trade Academy, from years 11-13 are involved in the project and played a clip from a recent visit by Education Minister Erica Stanford, praising this success in linking school and industry – with apprenticeship alumni maintaining contact as positive role models.
Rotary’s RAP programme provides weekly mentoring support to year 13 Academy students transitioning into employment and study the following year, while Trade students are also able to earn money for the costs of the essential Drivers’ Licence, by assisting with Mt Smart parking.
Charlotte also reached out to Rotary networks, noting that the Board of Trustees would be seeking a small parcel of land, in the vicinity of the school to situate the finished house, which would be serviced by the Academy and will run entirely off-grid, starting with heat pump hot water.
The meeting then moved to the musical section, with performances from various students, introduced by Diana Rhodes. A duet of Over the Rainbow was followed by Emmanuel Tangimataiti’s rendition of O Sole Mio – that Diana explained had first found fame with Elvis as It’s now or never!
Teacher Raewyn Seto was the pianist and performances concluded with a sweet-voiced trio, plus an invitation from Diana to attend the combined OTHC-Vocalis event prior to Big Sing – 7.30pm Thursday June 4 in the school auditorium.
In moving the vote of thanks to all musical performers, co-president John Meadowcroft noted that the performance of O Sole Mio, was particularly timely, with Team NZ kicking off their defence of the America’s Cup in Italy at the weekend!