Tongan PM optimistic ahead of elections
Tonga's Prime Minister Dr 'Aisake Valu Eke says he is optimistic about this year's election and his government is just focused on doing the best they can and the Tongan people will be the judge.
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Scoop
8 hours ago
- Scoop
$33 Million Into More Classrooms For Central North Island Schools
Press Release – New Zealand Government Construction on these projects will begin over the next 12 months, which means schools, families, and communities can start experiencing the benefits as soon as possible, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. Minister of Education The Government is delivering 32 more safe, warm and dry classrooms and a major school redevelopment for Kiwi kids living in the Central North Island. 'As communities continue to grow, we remain committed to future-proofing our education system so parents have certainty about where to send their child to school. We're not only building more classrooms, but we are also building more opportunities for children to thrive. 'This package is about making sure our schools can keep up with the needs of their communities so more students have access to fit-for-purpose learning environments,' Education Minister Erica Stanford says. It includes: 4 classrooms at Hamilton East School in Hamilton, 2 classrooms at Waipawa School in Hawke's Bay, 3 classrooms at Maungatapu School in Tauranga, 2 classrooms at Te Kauwhata Primary School in Waikato, and 2 Classrooms at Kawerau South School in the Bay of Plenty. Further to this, Taihape Area School will benefit from a major redevelopment, getting 19 new classrooms, including a hard technology classroom, and the multipurpose hall and gym space will be strengthened to improve its seismic performance. This project will meet the needs of the school, taking a standardised and value for money approach to address long-overdue seismic and weathertightness issues. 'The Taihape community has been loud and clear for almost a decade that their school property is not fit-for-purpose. Students and staff have been teaching and learning in sub-standard classrooms for too long. This investment will make sure children are set up for success in the classroom.' 'Construction on these projects will begin over the next 12 months, which means schools, families, and communities can start experiencing the benefits as soon as possible,' said Ms. Stanford. 'We are powering up efficiencies in school property delivery so more schools, communities and children benefit sooner. The use of standardised building designs, offsite manufacturing, and streamlining procurement have lowered the average cost of a classroom by 28%, allowing 30% more classrooms to be delivered last year compared to 2023. We will continue to drive this down so more Kiwi kids can thrive,' Ms Stanford says.

RNZ News
8 hours ago
- RNZ News
After years of leaks and delays, Taihape Area School gets rebuild green light
Taihape Area School is getting a rebuild. a decade after flaws were exposed. Photo: Google Maps Taihape Area School is in line to get a long-awaited makeover and 19 new classrooms. The 15-year-old Taihape Area School has been plagued by leaks, cold rooms and bad plumbing since the start. But officials have flip-flopped for a decade between a repair or rebuild. Now, the government said work on a new hard technology classroom, multipurpose hall and gym, and the other classrooms will begin within a year. "The Taihape community has been loud and clear for almost a decade that their school property is not fit-for-purpose," Education Minister Erica Stanford said in a statement. "Students and staff have been teaching and learning in sub-standard classrooms for too long." Taihape is the major recipient of a rollout announced on Friday of 32 new classrooms in all, across Waikato and the central North Island. Hamilton East (four classrooms), Waipawa (two), Maungatapu School in Tauranga (three), Te Kauwhata Primary (two) and Kawerau South (two classrooms) would also get several classrooms each. "Construction on these projects will begin over the next 12 months," Stanford said. The average cost of building a classroom had been cut 28 percent by using standardised designs, offsite manufacturing and streamlining procurement, almost a third more classrooms had been delivered in 2024 compared to 2023, she added. Taihape Area School board member Melissa Lawrence said the move marked a "significant and long-awaited step forward for our kura and community". "This is about more than buildings - it's about creating the conditions for our tamariki to thrive," she said in a statement on Friday. "This investment reflects the shared voice of our community over many years and represents a collective step into a stronger future." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.


NZ Herald
10 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Greenpeace warns Govt oil/gas ban reversal will open up mining across NZ
Resources Minister Shane Jones is calling for mining companies to restart oil and gas exploration in New Zealand. Photo / Mike Scott Greenpeace is sounding the alarm as Government minister Shane Jones extols the benefits of reversing the oil and gas exploration ban, including opening up 'all acreage' of New Zealand for mining. Jones, speaking at the Asia Pacific Energy Assembly in Singapore this week in his capacity as Resources and