11:43 am today

Government to build 82 more classrooms and a new school

11:43 am today
Erica Stanford classrooms announcement

Erica Stanford says money that was freed up through lower building costs is being reinvested in growth areas. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii

The government says it has found a hundred million dollars in savings to reinvest into building 82 more classrooms and a new school.

Education Minister Erica Stanford said the government halving build costs freed up the funding, which was being reinvested into rapidly growing areas.

Cashmere High School in Christchurch and Papatoetoe High School in Auckland were two of the biggest winners with 14 and 12 new classrooms respectively, and the new school will be a primary and intermediate in Pokēno, Waikato.

New classrooms:

  • Ashburton Netherby School - 2 classrooms
  • Cashmere High School - 14 classrooms
  • Cosgrove School - 4 classrooms
  • Kerikeri High School - 4 classrooms
  • Kerikeri Primary School - 4 classrooms
  • Papakura Intermediate - 6 classrooms
  • Papatoetoe High School - 12 classrooms
  • Shirley Primary School - 2 classrooms
  • Warkworth School - 6 classrooms
  • Whangaparoa College - 6 classrooms
  • Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kaikohe - 4 classrooms
  • Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Taumarunui - 4 classrooms
  • Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Hiringa - 4 classrooms

New learning support classrooms:

  • Cambridge Middle School - 1 satellite classroom for Northern Health School
  • Eight satellite classrooms for Kimi Ora Specialist School - 2 at Fergusson Intermediate, 2 at Te Aro School, 2 at Wilford School and a further 2 at a secondary school in Hutt Valley
  • Mt Richmond School - refurbishing the space for 45 students
  • Oromahoe School - 1 satellite classroom for Blomfield Specialist School

New School:

  • Ring-fenced funding for a new Year 1 to 8 primary school in Pokēno

The minister said the investment added to the $713 million for school buildings from this year's Budget, which includes $300m for repairs and upgrades, $255m for internal and external improvements over five years, and $58m for operating maintenance work.

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