page_title: Ao Tawhiti
section_title: Unlimited 2003–2011
hierarchical_section_title: Ao Tawhiti / History / Discovery and Unlimited / Unlimited 2003–2011
caption_attribution_description: English: High Street and Cashel Street Intersection, Christchurch
context_page_description: Ao Tawhiti or Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery is a state area school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was established by the merging of two separate Christchurch inner city schools; the primary school Discovery and the secondary school Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti.
  The school is one of eleven schools running under the "Designated Special Character" criteria of the Education Act 1989.
  Students are given the flexibility to pick from a variety of interchangeable classes and subjects to design their own customized learning programme, including working on individual projects as an alternative to total classroom learning. They also have the option to learn subjects which are not traditionally taught in New Zealand secondary schools, such as philosophy, video game design, DJing and music production.
context_section_description: Unlimited started with just 40 students (dubbed the "foundation forty") as well as 7 staff. It opened in January 2003 at its site on Cashel Street. Unlimited was originally based on the first floor of the Southern Star House building (which housed shops on the ground floor) and later occupied the second floor as well. 
  Ao Tawhiti claim that in 2003 a New Zealand business magazine named 'Unlimited' allegedly challenged the Unlimited school in relation to their name. The school claims it responded by renaming Unlimited to Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti, although few details about the case are given.
  In 2004, the construction of the Hallensteins Building (known as "Northern Tower" by those at the school) was established across from Unlimited's original premises on the corner of Cashel Street and High Street. It was built to help facilitate the growing number of students, which was upwards of 200 at the time. Students and staff moved into the building in 2005. Unlimited also expanded into the basement of The Crossing building that year, next door to the Southern Star Building.
  Unlimited's presence in the city centre was a core aspect of the schools student culture and philosophy to learning. The Hallenstines Building was important in the development of this culture.
  Unlimited reached a maximum MOE roll of 400 students by 2008.
caption: Unlimited 'Southern Star' building to the mid-left and Northern Tower to the right, a thoroughfare for students, intersecting on High Street and Cashel (2010)
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