Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Education Minister Hekia Parata say good progress is being made in encouraging primary schools to adopt the Health Promoting Schools programme.

“One in three New Zealand school children are either obese or overweight, and more than a third are inactive,” says Dr Coleman.

“That’s why the Government launched the Childhood Obesity Plan. New Zealand is now one of the few countries in the OECD to have a target and a comprehensive plan to tackle childhood obesity.

$1 million will be invested under Budget 2016 to expand capacity at Motueka High School, say Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

Minister Kaye made the announcement this morning during a visit to Motueka High School.

“This investment will enable three new classrooms to be built at the school,” says Ms Parata.

“Motueka High School is a crucial school for the local education network, but population growth in the area has had a flow-on effect on the school’s roll.

Education Minister Hekia Parata has congratulated outstanding educator Karen Sewell on being made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

“Dame Karen has played a pivotal role in the education of generations of New Zealanders,” Ms Parata says. “The honour is richly deserved.

Around $53.5 million will be invested in school property in Tauranga, Hamilton and Hawke’s Bay as part of Budget 2016, say Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

Minister Parata made the announcement at Welcome Bay School in Tauranga today.

The investment includes:

A $19 million investment under Budget 2016 will provide Northland schools with 16 new classrooms and a new site and buildings for Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Tonga o Hokianga, say Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

Minister Kaye made the announcement at Whangarei Girls’ High School this afternoon.

“The Government is committed to investing in the potential of Northland’s young people and this investment will provide safe and innovative environments for students to learn and thrive in,” says Ms Parata.

Around $153 million will be invested in school property in greater Auckland as part of Budget 2016, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced at Ormiston Primary School today.

This investment includes:

More than $276 million dollars will be invested in Canterbury school infrastructure as part of Budget 2016, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“This will see a significant injection of more than $268 million towards the Christchurch schools rebuild programme,” says Ms Parata.

“There will also be an investment of around $8 million to fund an additional 21 classrooms across Canterbury, so that the region can meet the needs of current and future students as rolls grow.

Most schools will receive funding increases as a result of the Budget 2016 decision to target discretionary funding to schools teaching students most at risk of under-achievement, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

“The final allocations won’t be known until July enrolment data is matched with Ministry of Social Development data, but indicative modelling shows that the overwhelming majority of schools will receive some extra funding.”

The Government will invest around $4 million from Budget 2016 to provide new classrooms in the greater Wellington region, including Wairarapa, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today at Mt Cook School, Wellington.

“The 14 new classrooms to be built across the region are among the 480 new classrooms that were announced as part of Budget 2016 to meet roll growth,” says Ms Parata.

The schools that will receive new classrooms are:

Additional investment in early childhood education, children with special needs, and new schools and classrooms takes annual education spending above $11 billion for the first time, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

“Education is the key to the future and this investment, at a time of low inflation, demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to raising achievement for all our kids,” Ms Parata says.

Budget 2016 delivers extra support to students who need it most, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

“In line with our strategy of directing extra funding to where it is most needed, we are putting an additional $42.1 million of operating funding over the next four years into services for students with special needs,” Ms Parata says.

Budget 2016 uses a Social Investment approach to direct an extra $43.2 million of operating funding over four years to schools educating about 150,000 students most at risk of educational failure, Education Minister Hekia Parata says.

The schools targeted for this new funding have students who have spent a significant proportion of their lives in benefit-dependent households.

“Most of these households do a great job of helping their children do well at school,” Ms Parata says.

Budget 2016 provides $882.5 million for school property, comprising $727.3 million of capital funding and $155.2 million of operating funding over the next four years, Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye say.

“The package provides for growth across New Zealand, as well as investment in public private partnerships and significant investment in Canterbury. It will provide nine new schools, 480 new classrooms, two school expansions and the relocation and rebuilding of three schools and a kura.”

Education Minister Hekia Parata will today attend a commemorative service on the Greek island of Crete to honour the service and sacrifice of the New Zealanders who fought in the Battle of Crete that began 75 years ago today.

The service will be held at Galatas, the scene of fierce close combat between New Zealand and German alpine troops on the night of 27 May 1941.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata have today announced Careers New Zealand will become part of the Tertiary Education Commission in a reform which will result in better and more consistent careers information for school students.

Education Minister Hekia Parata leaves for Greece today to represent New Zealand at the 75th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of Crete.

“The commemorations are an opportunity to honour the service and sacrifice of the young New Zealanders who travelled half way around the world to defend the principle of freedom,” Ms Parata says.

Some 7700 New Zealanders fought in the battle which began on 20 May 1941. Of those  671 died, 967 were wounded, 2180 were taken prisoner and two, Captain Charles Upham and Sergeant Alfred Hulme, won Victoria Crosses.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced the appointment of an advisory group to consider possible changes to the education funding systems.

“The group comprised of school, early childhood education (ECE) and union leaders will test a number of proposed directions for change to improve the ECE and school funding systems to better support our kids to receive the best possible education,” says Ms Parata. “It will hold its first meeting on May 20.”

An extra 1250 students will benefit from extra teacher aides thanks to a $15.3 million Budget 2016 funding increase for in-class support, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“The operating funding increase, to be spread over four years, will ensure that students with a range of learning difficulties receive support tailored to their individual learning needs,” Ms Parata says.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today met with the New Zealand Sign Language Advisory Group and the visiting World Federation of the Deaf Board to mark Sign Language Awareness Week.

“2016 marks 10 years since New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) became an official language of New Zealand and it is used on a daily basis by thousands of people,” says Ms Parata.

Education Minister Hekia Parata says a significant milestone has been reached with more than 1000 schools now in Communities of Learning, supporting more than 320,000 kids.

Ms Parata today announced another 21 communities have been approved, taking the total number to 117.

“We’ve now got over 1000 schools involved in Communities of Learning which is 40 percent of all schools.

“This is magnificent. These communities will help drive up achievement for all kids all the way along the pathway from early learning to senior secondary.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today welcomed the official opening of Rototuna Junior High School in Hamilton.

The school, which caters for Year 7 to 10 students, opened its doors at the beginning of the year with the largest-ever first day intake of students – 634.

“The size of the opening day roll is testament to the vision and hard work of the Establishment Board of Trustees and Principal Fraser Hill,” says Ms Parata, who was due to attend the official opening, but was prevented by fog from getting to Hamilton.

Education Minister Hekia Parata is encouraging parents and others in the community to put themselves forward for School Board of Trustee elections now that nominations have opened.

“In our self-managing education system board members have big say in how our schools are run, what they teach and how they engage with students and the wider community,” says Ms Parata. “I urge all those who think they have something to offer to consider standing for election.

“You don’t need to be a parent or have a child at school but you do need

Education Minister Hekia Parata has congratulated former Rutherford College student Oxana Repina on being awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Academic Excellence at the NZQA Top Scholar Awards at Parliament today.

“The award recognises achievement at the highest overall level of academic excellence,” says Ms Parata. “Oxana’s success is something she and her school can be incredibly proud of.”