- Hon Erica Stanford
Education Minister Erica Stanford announced a $160 million investment to deliver new classrooms that will support growing communities across Auckland and the upper North Island.
"This latest investment brings the number of funded additional classrooms and learning spaces to 1373 nationwide since I first became Minister," Ms Stanford says.
"Of the $160 million being announced today for Auckland includes, an investment of $100 million will deliver 133 additional teaching spaces through additional classrooms and school expansions. This means more capacity in areas where families are choosing to live."
A further 24 classrooms will be delivered to local schools in high growth areas outside Auckland across the upper North Island, helping to ease pressure in growing communities.
Funding has also been set aside for the design of a new secondary school in Kumeū, ensuring the area is well placed to meet future demand. Earlier in the year, I announced that land had been earmarked for the new school, marking an important step in planning for a growing North West Auckland community.
"I am happy to announce that we are investing $25 million to deliver 26 learning support classrooms across the upper North Island, so students with additional needs have the spaces and support they require to succeed."
Ms Stanford says the investment package reflects a clear focus on practical delivery and planning ahead.
"When I first became Minister I inherited a school property system that was bordering on a crisis, with cost blowouts, maintenance delays that had resulted in mushroom growing on the walls of some classrooms and schools not being giving an idea of when or if they would receive new classrooms.
"Our Government has turned around the delivery of school property. We have reduced the cost of newclassrooms reuslting in cost-savings of $300 million which has been reinvested in schools.
"I have been very clear that this government is laser focused on delivering value for money." Ms Stanford says. "That is why we are supplementing this investment with up to $7 million of existing Ministry funding to deliver approximately 17 of these classrooms announced today as refurbished relocatable classrooms. This approach means every dollar tipped in from Budget 26 can go further."
A solution for Te Kura Kaupapa Maōri o Ngāringaomatariki
"I am also thrilled to announce that this package includes construction funding to relocate Te Kura Kaupapa Maōri o Ngāringaomatariki to a permanent location near Kaiwaka. Their current site at Oruawharo is constrained, and there isn't sufficient space for additional buildings to accommodate the growing roll."
"Budget 26 construction funding will unlock access to a full year 1 to 13 kura kaupapa māori, completing a pathway in Māori education we didn't have. This project will provide increased options for students and whānau living between Whangarei and Auckland's North Shore," Ms Stanford says.
Funding to address condition issues at existing schools
"In addition to the $160m growth investment, we are also investing in six redevelopment projects to address ageing school property and bring facilities up to the standard students and staff expect," Ms Stanford says.
These schools are:
- Dargaville High School in Dargaville
- Ellerslie School in Auckland
- Finlayson Park School in Auckland
- Massey High School in Auckland
- Rangataiki College in the Bay of Plenty
- Western Heights High School in Rotorua
"Many of these schools have had longstanding issues with older buildings that are no longer fit for purpose. This funding will replace or upgrade existing classrooms and facilities to ensure that schools can continue to meet the needs of their communities from now into the future.
"We are getting the basics right. That means making sure schools are in the right place, have the capacity they need and are in good condition to serve their communities," Ms Stanford says. More announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
