Schools in Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay to benefit from $73m for 'major redevelopment'

The Government is investing $73 million into building 39 new classrooms at schools in Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay, and into "major redevelopments" to fix buildings at two Tauranga schools.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris Hipkins made the announcement from Tauranga's Otumoetai College, which will receive $47m in repairs.

"This Government is focused on rebuilding education and in the case of these big school redevelopments we are taking that literally, fixing leaky buildings and creating modern and safe spaces for kids to learn in," Ms Ardern said.

Tauranga Girls' College would also receive $6m after a three-storey block suffered "significant" weather defects, Mr Hipkins said.

$20m of the funding would be allocated to the building of new teaching spaces, with $9m going to Waikato, $5.5m to Bay of Plenty and $5.5m in Hawke’s Bay, to address the growing number of students.

Mr Hipkins said the Ministry of Education would liaise with school boards to get the projects underway. 

Waikato

• Te Kauwhata Primary – 4 teaching spaces
• Fairfield Primary – 4 teaching spaces
• Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Bernard Fergusson – 2 teaching spaces
• Nawton School – 2 teaching spaces
• Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Patetere – 2 teaching spaces
• Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga – 4 teaching spaces

Bay of Plenty

• Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Whakarewa | Te Reo Ki Tuwharetoa – 2 teaching spaces
• Tauranga Boys College – 3 teaching spaces
• Oropi School – 4 teaching spaces
• Taupo-nui-a-Tia College - 2 teaching spaces.

Hawke's Bay

• Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Kahungunu o Te Wairoa – 3 teaching spaces
• Mahora School – 2 teaching spaces
• Eskdale School – 2 teaching spaces
• Frimley School – 2 teaching spaces
• Kaiti School - 1 teaching space.