Eight prestigious tertiary scholarships will be presented to outstanding Māori students by Education Minister and Ngārimu Board Chair Hon Hekia Parata in a ceremony at Parliament today.

The eight recipients – undergraduates Ezekiel Raui, Jack Potaka, Kaahu White, Tekiteora Rolleston-Gabel, Tipene James, and Masters recipients, Ana Montgomery-Neutze, Arena Williams and Maia Wikaira – received scholarships that commemorate Victoria Cross recipient Second Lieutenant Te Moananui a Kiwa Ngārimu, and the soldiers of the 28th Māori Battalion.

A contract has been signed with the ShapEd consortium to deliver the third schools public private partnership (PPP), Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“I’m pleased to confirm that negotiations between the Ministry of Education and ShapEd, who we announced in March as the preferred bidder, have been successful,” says Ms Kaye.

“This contract for $220 million will deliver three new primary schools and two relocated secondary schools which will all open in 2019.

A new two-storey block containing 31 teaching spaces at Koru School in Mangere, Auckland, was opened today by Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

“The opening of this new block marks the completion of Stage One of Koru School’s $20 million, two-stage redevelopment,” says Ms Kaye.

“This is a huge project that involves replacing all of the school’s previous buildings.

Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye will visit three Christchurch schools today to celebrate the completion of new classrooms and facilities, which are part of redevelopment projects valued at around $20 million.

Ms Kaye will be visiting Cashmere Primary School, Halswell Residential College and Avonhead Primary School.

“I’m celebrating projects at both ends of the construction spectrum in Christchurch today,” says Ms Kaye.

A blessing and sod turning this morning will mark the start of construction of the new, $30 million Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery school in Christchurch, says Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

“I’m really looking forward to being at the school’s St Asaph Street site today, having visited their current Ilam site last August to announce their new inner city home,” says Ms Kaye.

Minister of Education Hekia Parata today announced six appointments to the Ngārimu VC and 28th Māori Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board.

Ms Parata says the Board has a rich history of providing scholarships to support future Māori leaders in their academic studies, which will continue with the mix of skills the new members bring to the board.

Education Minister Hekia Parata is travelling back from the United Kingdom after sharing New Zealand’s Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako with experts from around the world.

Ms Parata spent five days meeting with leaders, researchers and practitioners in London and Scotland. She also led a New Zealand delegation at the 7th International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) in Edinburgh.

“The Summit was an opportunity to talk with experts from around the world about their efforts to reduce inequities in education,” says Ms Parata.

Fruitvale Primary School in New Lynn is the latest Auckland school to receive extra classrooms to help it accommodate a growing roll, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

Ms Kaye made the announcement during a visit to the school this morning.

“Around $9.5 million will be invested in a project that will see a new two-story block built, comprising eight teaching spaces,” says Ms Kaye.

Education Minister Hekia Parata is travelling to the United Kingdom, to talk with international experts about the biggest change to New Zealand’s education system in 30 years.

Ms Parata will share this country’s experience with Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako during meetings in London, and then in Scotland at the 7th International Summit on the Teaching Profession being held in Edinburgh.

“We have already had a great deal of interest from other countries in what we’re doing in New Zealand,” says Ms Parata.

A ceremony at lunchtime today will usher in the construction phase of the $9 million redevelopment of Thorndon School in Wellington, says Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

“The designs for this project have now been finalised, and they show what a fantastic new facility this is going to be,” says Ms Kaye.

“I’m looking forward to joining the school for this ceremony. There will be a blessing, and a sod from the construction site will be removed and kept for returning to the earth once the project is complete.”

Soil turning ceremonies today will mark the start of two education construction projects in New Plymouth, at Spotswood College and the wharekura Te Pi’ipi’inga Kakano Mai Rangiatea, says Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

“Spotswood College is getting a new $2 million learning support centre for students with special education needs, while at Te Pi’ipi’inga Kakano Mai Rangiatea the $1.6 million project will deliver four extra classrooms to help meet roll growth, says Ms Kaye.

Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye have welcomed the official opening of Lemonwood Grove School in Christchurch by the Prime Minister.

Around 80 students started Term 1 at the new school in Rolleston, which includes a library; technology spaces where children can do activities such as arts and crafts, messy play and cooking; outdoor teaching spaces and an adventure play area.

The Better Public Service (BPS) goals of growing the number of children in Early Childhood Education, increasing the proportion of 18 year olds with NCEA Level 2 or equivalent, and increasing graduates of Level 4 or tertiary equivalents have all shown fantastic progress, say Education Minister Hekia Parata and Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith.

Education Minister Hekia Parata is today hosting for the first time an education expo that lays out all the tools and resources available to support Communities of Learning │Kāhui Ako.

“The first National Cross Sector Forum for 2017 is on another level in its focus on how we work together to raise educational achievement for all our young people,” says Ms Parata.

At least $13 million will be invested to redevelop the senior campus at Warkworth Primary School in Rodney, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“This project demonstrates the Government’s continuing momentum to address roll growth and modernise school infrastructure,” says Ms Kaye.

“Ten existing classrooms on the senior campus for years four to six will be demolished and replaced with 14 new classrooms, along with renewed administration, library and resource spaces.

ShapEd has been selected as the preferred bidder for the Ministry of Education’s third Public Private Partnership (PPP) to build six schools, Education Minister Hekia Parata announced today.

“The Ministry is now in the final contractual negotiations for this $220 million project with ShapEd,” says Ms Parata.

“The consortium will design, finance and construct the schools, as well as maintain them for 25 years.”

Four of the schools are new primary schools:

Education Minister Hekia Parata has announced Auckland, Tauranga and Canterbury will each see a new primary school opening their doors for students in 2019.

Minister Parata today signed establishment notices for Flat Bush South East School in Auckland, Pyes Pa West School in Tauranga and Lincoln South School in Canterbury.

Flat Bush South East School will be built to accommodate Years 1-6 students in this rapidly growing South East Auckland suburb.

Prime Minister Bill English and Minister of Education Hekia Parata officially opened Haeata Community Campus in Christchurch today.

“With the flexible learning spaces and a flexible style of teaching to match, this stunning school is living proof of what the future of education looks like,” says Ms Parata.

“Today marks another significant step forward, not only for the local community, but for the rest of the greater Christchurch region. Ten brand new schools have now been built since the earthquake, with space for more than 6,500 students.”

Around $3.8 million will be invested to build a new two-storey classroom block at Auckland’s Long Bay Primary School, says Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye.

The Prime Minister, the Right Hon Bill English, visited the school this morning to share the good news with the school and local community.

“Long Bay Primary School is situated in an area experiencing rapid population growth, and a large housing development is underway near the school,” says Ms Kaye.

Education Minister Hekia Parata today announced the judging panel for the Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards.

Included in the panel are Michelle Dickinson, the 2016 Women of Influence Award winner for science and innovation and Frances Valintine the founder of The Mind Lab.

“I am delighted that yet again a range of outstanding New Zealanders have agreed to contribute to celebrating the best in education,” says Ms Parata.

Around $800,000 will be invested to build two new classrooms at Te Anau Primary School, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“This investment will help the school cater for projected roll growth,” says Ms Kaye.

“Te Anau Primary School is the heart of its local community and embraces positive activity, with students making the most of its location to enjoy the nearby lake, forest and parks.

“There has been a steady increase in student numbers during the past few years and this is expected to continue.

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Education Minister Louise Upston have today announced the release of a new online resource designed to help young people enter the workforce.

The Employability Skills Framework clearly sets out the key behaviours, attitudes and personal qualities employers say are essential for getting and keeping a job.

Around $1.6 million will be invested to build four new classrooms at Te Wharekura o TeRau Aroha in the Waikato region, Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today.

“Te Wharekura o TeRau Aroha has experienced consistent roll growth in response to increased demand for Maori medium education,” says Ms Kaye.

“The kura was born in 2009 through the redevelopment of Narua Primary School. This involved a collaborative approach, with the integration of existing and new buildings to ensure the kura’s design reflected its vision.