The New Zealand Government has announced a $62.5 million investment in new classrooms and school infrastructure across the South Island, with a major focus on growing communities in Canterbury.
According to a report by Stuff, Education Minister Erica Stanford unveiled the funding package during a visit to Darfield High School on Friday. The investment will fund 59 new classrooms and support upgrades at several existing schools.
The package includes a new 18-classroom primary school in Lincoln South, along with additional classrooms at schools in Darfield, Rolleston, Christchurch, Ashburton, and North Canterbury, as reported by Stuff.
In Canterbury, the funding will provide:
The investment comes as population growth continues to place pressure on school capacity in Canterbury, particularly in Rolleston, Lincoln and Darfield.
Stanford said the latest allocation brings the Government’s total investment in South Island school growth projects over the past three Budgets to around $300 million, Stuff has reported.
Beyond Canterbury, new classrooms are planned for schools including Fiordland College, Heddon Bush School, South Westland Area School and Hāwea Flat School.
According to Stuff, the package also includes additional learning support facilities, with two new classrooms at Maitai School and two satellite classrooms for Maitai students at Springlands School.
The Government said it is increasingly relying on standardised and modular classroom designs, a move it says has helped reduce construction costs and speed up project delivery.
Funding has also been earmarked for land acquisition for a future high school in Queenstown, as reported by Stuff.
Separately, property improvement funding will be provided to Amuri Area School, Logan Park High School, Southland Boys' High School and Southland Girls’ High School to address infrastructure and maintenance issues. The Ministry of Education will work with each school to finalise project plans in the coming months, Stuff has reported.
Stanford indicated that further announcements of school property investments are expected in the coming weeks.