Latest news with #Budget25
1News
4 days ago
- Business
- 1News
Govt announces new classrooms in Auckland, school property management agency
The Government says more than $120 million from Budget 2025 will be used to help build 137 more classrooms in Auckland, to keep up with "the city's rapid growth". Education Minister Erica Stanford made the announcement alongside Minister for Auckland Simeon Brown at Northcross Intermediate School on Auckland's North Shore today. "Through Budget 25 funding, 137 new classrooms will be rolled out, creating space for an additional 3014 student places in the network, supporting schools with growing rolls," she said. The schools getting classrooms are: Bucklands Beach Intermediate – 2 classrooms Helensville School – 1 classroom Kauri Flats School – 4 classrooms Lincoln Heights School – 6 classrooms Macleans College – 8 classrooms Massey High School – 8 classrooms Mission Heights Primary School – 6 classrooms Mountain View School – 6 classrooms Northcross Intermediate – 8 classrooms One Tree Hill College – 6 classrooms Orewa College – 12 classrooms Panama Road School – 4 classrooms Papakura Normal School – 10 classrooms (in addition to the two learning support classrooms already announced) Papatoetoe Central School – 4 classrooms Papatoetoe East School – 4 classrooms Papatoetoe Intermediate – 6 classrooms Papatoetoe South School – 6 classrooms Puhinui School – 2 classrooms Pukekohe North School – 4 classrooms Rangitoto College – 10 classrooms Te Kura o Pātiki Rosebank School – 4 classrooms Takanini School – 4 classrooms Tuakau College – 6 classrooms Whenuapai School – 6 classrooms ADVERTISEMENT She said Auckland was "booming" and the Government was "stepping up by investing heavily in extra classrooms to support the city's rapid growth". Construction was expected to begin in the next 12 months. A hundred million dollars poured into a new Auckland school and expansion in others. (Source: 1News) "We are getting on with the job of future-proofing Auckland's school network to keep pace with population growth. Brown said Auckland was a "magnet for talent, with thousands of people moving to our largest city each year to build a better life for themselves and their families". "Ensuring that our city has the services and infrastructure for growth is a priority for our Government," he said. "The Government's investment in new classrooms for our young learners will help Auckland accommodate growth, while also supporting construction sector jobs across the region." ADVERTISEMENT A site had been purchased in Pōkeno to build a new primary school, while a new junior college would be established on the site of Chapel Downs Primary School. Earlier this week, the Government scrapped open-plan Modern Learning Environments following feedback the flexible layout classrooms with fewer walls and often more teachers were not meeting the needs of students. "We have listened to the sector, and new classrooms will no longer be open plan," Stanford said. Also today the Government said it would also establish a new entity separate from the Ministry of Education to manage school property. The New Zealand School Property Agency (NZSPA), a new Crown agent, would be responsible for planning, building, maintaining and administrating the school property portfolio. The Ministry of Education would remain responsible for education policy and network decisions, including where growth was required. "This separation will allow the Ministry to focus on education outcomes, while the board of NZSPA will be responsible for the school property portfolio," Stanford said. Stanford announced earlier this week that two schools in Wellington were also in line for more classrooms. Newlands Intermediate would get 10 new classrooms, while Aotea College would receive 16.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
$120 Million Auckland School Property Growth Plan
Minister of Education Hon Simeon Brown Minister for Auckland The Government's investing more than $120 million into building more classrooms in Auckland, so thousands more students can learn in safe, warm and dry environments. 'Auckland is booming, and we are stepping up by investing heavily in extra classrooms to support the city's rapid growth. Through Budget 25 funding, 137 new classrooms will be rolled out, creating space for an additional 3,014 student places in the network, supporting schools with growing rolls,' Education Minister Erica Stanford says. 'We're delivering these through a combination of cost-effective repeatable designs and offsite manufactured buildings, so our funding can go further and more students benefit. The schools getting classrooms are: Bucklands Beach Intermediate – 2 classrooms Helensville School – 1 classroom Kauri Flats School – 4 classrooms Lincoln Heights School – 6 classrooms Macleans College – 8 classrooms Massey High School – 8 classrooms Mission Heights Primary School – 6 classrooms Mountain View School – 6 classrooms Northcross Intermediate – 8 classrooms One Tree Hill College – 6 classrooms Orewa College – 12 classrooms Panama Road School – 4 classrooms Papakura Normal School – 10 classrooms (in addition to the two learning support classrooms already announced) Papatoetoe Central School – 4 classrooms Papatoetoe East School – 4 classrooms Papatoetoe Intermediate – 6 classrooms Papatoetoe South School – 6 classrooms Puhinui School – 2 classrooms Pukekohe North School – 4 classrooms Rangitoto College – 10 classrooms Te Kura o Pātiki Rosebank School – 4 classrooms Takanini School – 4 classrooms Tuakau College – 6 classrooms Whenuapai School – 6 classrooms 'All of these projects are expected to enter construction in the next 12 months. We are getting on with the job of future-proofing Auckland's school network to keep pace with population growth.' 'I am also thrilled to announce we have confirmed a site purchase in Pōkeno to build a new primary school. We will also establish a new Junior College in Chapel Downs, on the site of Chapel Downs Primary School.' The school is due to open in Term 1, 2027, with an initial roll of up to 270 which is expected to grow to 1000 students over time. 'Significant progress has also been made through Budget 24 property investment into two new schools. Te Kura Rau Iti in Flat Bush is in the final stages of construction and is set to open for Term 1, 2026. A new primary school in Massey Redhills is in construction and set to open in Term 1, 2027. 'These new classrooms and schools are a fantastic boost for students, teachers, and the wider community. We will continue to drive efficiencies in school property delivery so more schools, communities and children benefit sooner,' Ms Stanford says. 'Auckland is a magnet for talent, with thousands of people moving to our largest city each year to build a better life for themselves and their families. Ensuring that our city has the services and infrastructure for growth is a priority for our Government,' Minister for Auckland Simeon Brown says. 'The Government's investment in new classrooms for our young learners will help Auckland accommodate growth, while also supporting construction sector jobs across the region.'
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Supporting More Tamariki Māori To Flourish
Minister of Education The Government is delivering over $100 million in investment through Budget 2025 to ensure more tamariki Māori thrive at school. 'This Government is firmly committed to properly resourcing our bilingual education system and lifting achievement for Māori students. Our Budget 25 investment delivers on the commitments through our Māori Education Action Plan, which takes a practical approach to strengthening outcomes for ākonga Māori,' Education Minister Erica Stanford says. This investment encompasses: $10 million to launch a new Virtual Learning Network (VLN) for STEM education (Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics) subjects in Kaupapa Māori and Māori Medium education settings, addressing the shortage of qualified STEM teachers proficient in both subject matter and te reo Māori. This will fund 15 kaiako to deliver online STEM education to up to 5,577 Year 9-13 ākonga. $4.5 million to develop comprehensive new te reo matatini and STEM curriculum resources and teacher supports for approximately 2,000 Year 9–13 learners in Kaupapa Māori and Māori Medium education. For the first time ever, students will be able to study Shakespeare, international literature, and iconic New Zealand works, including The Bone People entirely in te reo Māori. $2.1 million to develop a new Māori Studies subject for Years 11–13, offering students to deepen their understanding of Māori cultural practices, narratives, knowledge, and language. This new learning area will be developed byMātauranga Māori experts and will support learners to grow their knowledge of Māori culture, narratives, philosophies, Mātauranga and language. $14 million into training and support for up to 51,000 teachers/kaiako in Years 0-13 schools to learn te reo Māori and tikanga as appropriate benefiting over 560,000 students. An additional $60m of ring-fenced funding for Māori Medium and Kaupapa Māori Education property, which will deliver up to 50 new classrooms to support the network, providing access to immersion schooling for approximately an additional 1,100 ākonga. $4.8 million to appoint seven new curriculum advisors for Kaupapa Māori and Māori medium education to support kaiako in implementing the redesigned Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, including Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā, Poutama Pāngarau, and Hihira Weteoro, benefiting over 27,000 ākonga. $4.1 million to support the sustainability and data capability of the Kohanga Reo Network. $3.5 million to support WAI 3310 Waitangi Tribunal Education Services and Outcomes Kaupapa Inquiry. 'Each of these investments aim to drive student achievement for our tamariki Maōri so they thrive in the classroom. The Budget 2025 Māori education package delivered alongside investments support every child so they get the very best start and grow the New Zealand of the future'.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Learning Support Funding Welcomed But Something's Got To Give For ECE
Press Release – Early Childhood Council After Budget 2024 we were told there would be real cost relief through the ECE Regulatory Review, but any changes are still unclear and 14-18 months away, said Early Childhood Council CEO Simon Laube. There was no meaningful financial relief announced for ECE providers in Budget 25 – but the government's commitment to a funding review, buried in the detail, may offer some light at the end of the tunnel. 'If you're an ECE provider struggling to stay viable, you're asking 'what will help me keep the doors open? The lack of investment today confirms providers' worst fears – that the Government does not have confidence to invest in ECE because of the broken funding system,' said Simon Laube, Early Childhood Council CEO. ECC, who've campaigned for a comprehensive funding review over many years, takes the funding allocated to an ECE funding review in Budget 2025 as a big win for the entire sector, but says an announcement with the details can't come soon enough. 'After Budget 2024 we were told there would be real cost relief through the ECE Regulatory Review, but any changes are still unclear and 14-18 months away,' said Early Childhood Council CEO Simon Laube. Further evidence of the broken funding system was revealed today, with the government having to find $334.5 million to fund higher than expected early childhood payments to providers this year, likely caused by the costly Pay Parity policies combined with questionable population projections. One ECC member alone had a $60,000 shortfall this year due to Pay Parity's teacher salary progression requirements, which give all teachers 4% salary increments, unfunded by government – shortfalls of that size are enough to sink a vulnerable business or community group. This year's ECE cost adjustment of 0.5% is a record low. Over the last six years, successive government's lowballing adds up to a massive 12.7% shortfall against inflation over the period. 'The Government is allowing these cost pressures to mount up – ECE funding in 2026 will be 12.7% less valuable than it was to providers in 2020, that's the equivalent of a massive funding cut in today's dollars,' said Simon Laube. ECC celebrates the Learning Support investment in the Budget, as it has the potential to make a massive difference for learners who need additional support. Supporting these learners shows that New Zealanders truly care for all children, and it's about time. In ECE, additional funds for the Early Intervention Service and an expansion of that service into Year 1 of school will massively help address the well-known problems with children's transition out of ECE into school, when the Early Intervention Service used to get cut off. Now it won't get cut off and children who need additional support can experience a more seamless education.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Learning Support Funding Welcomed But Something's Got To Give For ECE
There was no meaningful financial relief announced for ECE providers in Budget 25 – but the government's commitment to a funding review, buried in the detail, may offer some light at the end of the tunnel. 'If you're an ECE provider struggling to stay viable, you're asking 'what will help me keep the doors open? The lack of investment today confirms providers' worst fears - that the Government does not have confidence to invest in ECE because of the broken funding system,' said Simon Laube, Early Childhood Council CEO. ECC, who've campaigned for a comprehensive funding review over many years, takes the funding allocated to an ECE funding review in Budget 2025 as a big win for the entire sector, but says an announcement with the details can't come soon enough. 'After Budget 2024 we were told there would be real cost relief through the ECE Regulatory Review, but any changes are still unclear and 14-18 months away,' said Early Childhood Council CEO Simon Laube. Further evidence of the broken funding system was revealed today, with the government having to find $334.5 million to fund higher than expected early childhood payments to providers this year, likely caused by the costly Pay Parity policies combined with questionable population projections. One ECC member alone had a $60,000 shortfall this year due to Pay Parity's teacher salary progression requirements, which give all teachers 4% salary increments, unfunded by government - shortfalls of that size are enough to sink a vulnerable business or community group. This year's ECE cost adjustment of 0.5% is a record low. Over the last six years, successive government's lowballing adds up to a massive 12.7% shortfall against inflation over the period. 'The Government is allowing these cost pressures to mount up - ECE funding in 2026 will be 12.7% less valuable than it was to providers in 2020, that's the equivalent of a massive funding cut in today's dollars,' said Simon Laube. ECC celebrates the Learning Support investment in the Budget, as it has the potential to make a massive difference for learners who need additional support. Supporting these learners shows that New Zealanders truly care for all children, and it's about time. In ECE, additional funds for the Early Intervention Service and an expansion of that service into Year 1 of school will massively help address the well-known problems with children's transition out of ECE into school, when the Early Intervention Service used to get cut off. Now it won't get cut off and children who need additional support can experience a more seamless education.
