Law and Management building officially opened by PM

With the snip of a ribbon and the unveiling of a plaque, Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key officially opened the University of Waikato’s new Law and Management building on 7 April.

The opening followed on from a dawn ceremony, and after the ribbon-cutting, staff and visitors had a walk-through of the building. Distinguished guests included Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker, MPs Tim Macindoe and David Bennett, members of the University Council, and Professor Margaret Wilson, former Speaker of Parliament who was the founding dean of the Waikato Law School.

The last time the Prime Minister was at the university was in 2014 during its 50th anniversary celebrations. A time capsule commemorating the university’s 50 years was put together at that time and has now been put in the Law and Management building.

Included in the time capsule are a letter from Prime Minister John Key, letters from Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker and the Mayor of Tauranga, The Charter of Kīngi Tuheitia, The Kawenata, a copy of Ko te Tangata, the 50th Anniversary celebration book, photos and records of the 50th anniversary celebrations.

The new building houses Te Piringa - Faculty of Law and Waikato Management School's Centre for Corporate and Executive Education, as well as student services.

It has a five-storey office tower and rooms at a below-ground level that feature a living lawn roof. The tower is linked below ground-level to the existing Management building on Hillcrest Road, and has offices, interview/meeting rooms, a boardroom, computer labs, student services, function areas, reception and research areas, a sunken courtyard and a moot courtroom. Furnishings in the moot courtroom came from the old Manukau District Court and a history of the University dating from 1964 is featured in photographs along a history wall in the stair-well.