About the Tech Centre
The Mount Cook Tech Centre is a purpose-built facility, catering to students from full primary schools in the Wellington area. The Tech Centre is made up of six learning areas: Soft Materials, Hard Materials, Electronics and Design, Digital Technology, Food Technology, and Design and Modelling.
Our Philosophy
The Mt Cook Tech Centre provides safe, practical and meaningful technology education to Wellington schools, reflecting the Technology curriculum, the needs of our community and of individual children, and encouraging quality, creativity and success.
We have five full-time permanent teachers and one part-time teacher.
Kelly McArthur - Digital Technology and Centre Manager
Kelly, our Digital Technology teacher, has a background in IT and a passion for using digital tools creatively. She loves all forms of animation, and with a partner who builds robots for a living, technology is a big part of her life.
In Year 7, students explore Robotics – starting with Lego engineering and moving on to building and coding real robots.
Year 8 students dive into animation, experimenting with seven types of stop motion and exploring the 12 Principles of Animation. In small groups, they create their own animated films.
Louise Brownlee - Soft Materials
Louise has been our sewing teacher at Mt Cook School since 2013. With a background in fashion design and pattern drafting, she later trained as a teacher – combining both passions in her ideal job.
In her classes, Year 7 students learn how to use sewing machines and make patchwork cushions, where they can personalise them in a variety of ways. Year 8 students build on these skills by choosing a bag design that suits them.
Louise creates a fun, supportive environment where students enjoy learning and being creative.
Jason Cadwallader - Electronics and Design
Jason has been part of the Tech Centre since 2002. After 14 years teaching Food Technology, he moved into the Electronics & Design room in 2018. He enjoys helping students combine creativity with hands-on skills.
In Year 7, students design and build their own LED lamp, learning to wire electronic components and use tools like soldering irons to complete the project.
In Year 8, students design and create a project of their own choice, often using 3D printers. Some focus on electronics, while others draw on skills from Hard and Soft Materials to make something uniquely theirs.
Terry Hawkings - Hard Materials
Terry joined our team in 2026. He has come from the workshops at Wellington High School, where he taught for over 20 years. He brings more than just woodwork knowledge – he has also taught Foods, Digital Technology and Sound Engineering.
Year 7 students get to use over 30 tools and four types of wood to make and personalise a storage box. They learn to measure, cut and join materials to create a strong, long-lasting product.
In Year 8, students build on these skills with projects like stools, desk tidies and vanity units.
Sarina Hutton - Food Technology
Sarina is our Foods teacher. She loves preparing, cooking and eating food from around the world and brings that passion to the kitchen at Mt Cook. Her classes focus on safe and hygienic food practices, nutrition and hands-on cooking skills.
In Year 7, students learn the basics through recipes like scones, pikelets, fruit crumble and burgers. In Year 8, they take on more complex dishes such as muffins, fried rice, lasagne and curry.
Each session ends with something tasty to take home, and every effort is made to accommodate any dietary requirements.
Bridget Dixon - Design and Modelling
Bridget is our part-time teacher who takes Design and Modelling for our larger schools.