Japanese Student Purchases a New Gymnasium Seat

Forever marked: Naoto Okamoto,  wanted to leave his mark on Kapiti College after three years of study. The Japanese 18-year-old, with his mother Keiko and father Akihiko, has bought a  seat for the for the newly constructed Kapiti College gym, which is being opened to the public early February 2010.

The college was hoping more would follow the Okamoto's lead and offer financial support to the $2.5 million project, which would be Kapiti's first indoor seated gymnasium.

The gym will host netball, basketball, badminton, and volleyball matches, along with arts and cultural performances. The grandstand features 300 x  Effuzi ‘Albany’ arena tilt seats and a glassed viewing gallery.  The facility will be independently run, with the college and community able to use it.

Mrs Okamoto said she wanted to return the support her son had received from the college and community. "This is our first experience to come to New Zealand and we can see how Naoto has been supported by many kind people in the community for three years”.