On March 27, 2026, Waitākere College officially marked a historic milestone with the grand opening of its new School of Business. The ceremony celebrated the culmination of a vision to bridge the gap between secondary education and the high-stakes world of commerce, providing students in West Auckland with a direct pathway to industry leadership.

A Visionary Partnership

The School of Business is a powerhouse collaboration between Waitākere College’s high-performing Commerce department and renowned businessman Tony Falkenstein (ONZM). This project - the second such school Falkenstein has helped establish following his success at Onehunga High School - was brought to fruition through the combined vision of Falkenstein and the established expertise of Matt Cicchini (School of Business Director) and his Commerce department. By merging the department’s philosophy of teaching 'beyond the curriculum' with Falkenstein’s mission to integrate entrepreneurial thinking into education, they have worked alongside industry leaders to bridge the gap between the classroom and the professional world, creating a world-class reality for the youth of West Auckland.

Supported by the University of Auckland, AUT, the University of Waikato Management School and Deloitte, the initiative ensures that students aren't just learning from textbooks, but are earning credits and insights recognised by New Zealand’s top tertiary institutions and businesses.

The grand opening on March 27th served as the official ribbon-cutting by Hon. Erica Stanford, Minister of Education, for the dedicated business wing.

Beyond the Classroom: The "CEO Wednesday" Experience

The opening ceremony highlighted the programme's unique structure. Every Wednesday afternoon, Year 13 students trade standard classroom sessions for masterclasses with real-world entrepreneurs.

Earlier this term, students had a taste of what was to come with a visit from Falkenstein himself, who gifted each student a copy of his book, The ABC of Business. His message to the inaugural class was clear: "Business thrives on trust, fair play, and never hiring a person who walks slowly!"

The Road Ahead

Principal Mark Shanahan and the Board of Trustees expressed their pride in seeing the inaugural class already engaging with the local business community.

Among those lending their expertise is Tanja Jujnovich Rawal, a Transformation Leader and Waitākere College alumna, who has joined the School of Business as a volunteer board member.

Reflecting on the opening, Tanja shared why this programme is a shift in the status quo: "This is about giving young people real access to how business actually works. Not just theory, but lived experience; not just ideas, but pathways; not just aspiration, but belief. Because when students can see it, they can start to imagine themselves in it. And that’s where things shift."