Associate Education Minister Tim Macindoe is today, on World Refugee Day, welcoming the opening of new education facilities at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre in Auckland.

“This $6.9 million project has delivered 12 new flexible learning spaces to replace classrooms which date back to World War II and were no longer fit for purpose,” says Mr Macindoe.

Houghton Valley School in Wellington will receive funding to build a new classroom as part of Budget 2017, Associate Education Minister Tim Macindoe announced today.

Mr Macindoe visited Houghton Valley School today to share the news with the school.

“Houghton Valley School’s roll has been increasing steadily. This new classroom will extend the school’s capacity and continue our commitment to expand the network in areas of ongoing population growth,” says Mr Macindoe.

Around $2.5 million will be invested in Budget 2017 to expand the capacity of schools in the Waikato region, say Education Minister Nikki Kaye and Associate Education Minister Tim Macindoe.

Mr Macindoe made the announcement today during a visit to Cambridge East School in Cambridge.

“This first round of school infrastructure investment in Budget 2017 will provide a total of five new classrooms to two schools in the region,” says Ms Kaye.

The schools receiving new classrooms are:

Education Minister Nikki Kaye today attended the Annual Conference of the Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools (APIS), where she signed a historical $20 million property funding agreement.

“This funding is being provided under Budget 2017, and recognises retrospective property-related costs incurred by state integrated schools as a result of past education policy changes,” says Ms Kaye.

Around $5.5 million will be invested under Budget 2017 to expand the capacity of schools in the Canterbury region, say Education Minister Nikki Kaye and Associate Education Minister Tim Macindoe.

Minister Macindoe made the announcement today during a visit to Prebbleton School in Selwyn.

“This first round of school infrastructure investment under Budget 2017 will provide a total of eleven new classrooms to three schools in the region, adding space for around 220 students,” says Ms Kaye.

The schools receiving new classrooms are:

Associate Minister of Education, Tim Macindoe, will visit Rangiora Borough School today to officially open a new $6 million building that the school has named after local pioneer, Henry Blackett.

“The Henry Blackett building replaces aging facilities and extends capacity to meet roll growth by providing the school with 12 new, modern teaching spaces that will promote positive and inspiring learning experiences for its students,” says Mr Macindoe.

Education Minister Nikki Kaye has provided more detail about Budget 2017 funding for Māori language and kura management.

$7.6 million over four years is being invested in Māori language in education curriculum resources, alongside $1.7 million to continue supporting the Boards of Trustees of Māori medium schools.

During a visit to Roscommon School in Auckland with Prime Minister Bill English, Minister Kaye discussed what the funding will provide.

Around $10 million will be invested to redevelop Masterton’s Wairarapa College, Education Minister Nikki Kaye and Associate Minister of Education Tim Macindoe announced today.

“Wairarapa College is one of the oldest schools in the region, and includes buildings with recognised heritage status, such as the main block with its distinctive octagonal tower and arched entranceway,” says Ms Kaye.

“However, many of the school’s buildings are in poor condition and affected by issues such as water damage.

Education Minister Nikki Kaye says more funding is being made available to support education in areas affected by last year’s Kaikōura earthquake.

“Budget 2017 provides $810,000 over two fiscal years to Kaikōura,” says Ms Kaye.

“This new funding comes on top of $645,000 that’s already been committed, bringing the total funding to support teachers, principals and staff in the area’s 40 schools and early childhood centres to $1.5 million.  

Around $30 million will be invested in school property in the Bay of Plenty as part of Budget 2017, say Education Minister Nikki Kaye and Associate Education Minister Tim Macindoe.

Ms Kaye visited Pillans Point School in Tauranga today to announce details of the investment, along with MP for Tauranga Simon Bridges and MP for Bay of Plenty Todd Muller.

The investment includes:

Associate Minister of Education Louise Upston today opened a new learning space at Waimate High School.

The school prioritised funding to upgrade one of its buildings to create three collaborative teaching spaces and modernise its infrastructure and information and communication technology (ICT).

“It’s fantastic to see Waimate High School’s staff and board of trustees rising to the challenge of modern learning by improving its physical and ICT environment for its students and the wider community,” Ms Upston says.

The $240 million investment in Auckland school property under Budget 2017 will add significant capacity to the city’s education network, say Education Minister Nikki Kaye and Associate Education Minister Tim Macindoe.

Ms Kaye announced details of the investment this morning at Stonefields School, which will benefit from a significant investment as part of the overall package.

Around $19 million will be invested in Wanaka’s school network as part of Budget 2017, Education Minister Nikki Kaye and Associate Education Minister Tim Macindoe announced today.            

This investment will include:

School capacity across New Zealand will increase significantly as a result of $392.4 million of capital funding and $64.1 million of operating funding over four years, Education Minister Nikki Kaye and Associate Education Minister Tim Macindoe say.

“This will provide six new schools, two school expansions, the relocation of two special education schools, 11 new special education satellite units and around 305 new classrooms nationwide,” Ms Kaye says.

Budget 2017 provides $63.3 million of operating funding over the next four years to support students with additional learning needs, including more teacher aide hours and a new programme for parents and teachers of young children with autism, Education Minister Nikki Kaye says.

“This Government is committed to ensuring that every child gets the support they need to be successful in life,” Ms Kaye says.

Budget 2017 has delivered the largest injection of new money into education since the Government took office in 2008, with an additional $1.1 billion of new operating funding over the next four years, plus an additional $392.4 million of capital funding, Education Minister Nikki Kaye says.

“This is a significant investment in our children and in New Zealand’s future, designed to keep improving achievement and deliver the best results for our children,” Ms Kaye says.

Kaikorai Primary School in Dunedin is set to benefit from a $6.7 million redevelopment as part of the Government’s commitment to modernise school infrastructure, Education Minister Nikki Kaye and Associate Education Minister Tim Macindoe announced today.

“Kaikorai Primary School is a high performing school and the modern and innovative new learning spaces it will receive will enable it to continue to inspire the best from its pupils, both now and in the future,” says Ms Kaye.

Education Minister Nikki Kaye unveiled a commemorative photograph at Auckland Grammar School this morning, dedicated to New Zealand’s first ever female university graduate, Kate Edger.

“It was a privilege to acknowledge Kate, who was a real trailblazer and a passionate advocate for women at a time when opportunities for women were much more limited than they are today,” says Ms Kaye.

The Minister of Education Nikki Kaye has today announced new measures to enhance teacher quality and supply.

In a speech at Onehunga High School, Ms Kaye told principals that alongside funding 90 additional teachers through the Teach First NZ initiative the following measures are being taken to improve the supply and quality of teachers:

Education Minister Nikki Kaye has announced that Budget 2017 will commit $5.2 million of operating funding over the next four years to expand the innovative teacher training programme, Teach First NZ, to provide places for a further 90 participants.

“This funding is part of the Government’s drive to strengthen the teaching profession,” says Ms Kaye.

Education Minister Nikki Kaye today announced that the Ministry of Education will work with schools and communities to develop an Area Strategy for the Havelock North/Hastings area, as well as Napier if necessary.

“An Area Strategy looks at the education needs in a particular location and how these will be addressed, taking into account factors such as projected population and roll growth,” says Ms Kaye.

“Information gathering for the strategy will begin now, but the key work will happen in 2018.

Metro schools will be considered as another option to meet future education needs in high-growth urban centres such as Auckland, Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“A metro school is an innovative model that responds to the need to provide education in intensified urban areas, where the large areas of land associated with a traditional school may be hard to acquire,” says Ms Kaye.

Features of a metro school can include: