St Stephen’s School Revival, South Auckland, NZ

Completion Date:

February 2025

Project Details:

Originally established in 1848, St Stephen’s School (Te Kura o Tīpene) holds deep cultural and historical significance as one of New Zealand’s oldest Māori boarding schools. After closing in 2000, the school remained a powerful symbol of Māori education, with strong alumni advocacy working toward its reopening for over two decades.

In 2025, the school reopened its first refurbished block, marking the beginning of a long-term restoration program that will see the rest of the campus progressively strengthened and renewed over the next decade.

As part of this major heritage restoration project, Rockbond partnered with Sansom Construction to deliver specialist seismic strengthening solutions.

The Rockbond Heritage System – designed by Dizhur Consulting – was installed to bring the school’s masonry structures up to current earthquake standards.

The system incorporates Rockbond 1.18 Heritage Mortar , High-strength CFRP reinforcement mesh, and CFRP anchors to reinforce and strengthen the existing buildings while preserving their architectural integrity.

Key Products Used: