Upgrading School Infrastructure to Support Every Learner in New Zealand

Education Minister Erica Stanford says every child deserves a classroom that helps them focus and feel proud of where they learn. For too long, some schools have had to delay repairs and maintenance because of limited funding. Now, with this investment, schools can finally move ahead with projects that make a real difference, turning tired old buildings into modern, welcoming spaces where students and teachers can truly thrive.

The New Zealand Government is putting $413 million into upgrading schools across the country — a move that is much more than bricks and paint. It is about making sure every student learns in a classroom that feels warm, safe and inspiring. From fixing leaky roofs to improving heating systems and modernising learning spaces, this funding will help schools get long-needed upgrades done faster. Not to mention it will also give the construction industry a solid boost, creating more jobs and supporting local businesses in the process.

Driving Growth Through School Infrastructure Investment

The $413 million package includes:

• $58 million for maintenance work for all schools.

• $255 million for upgrades across small, rural and isolated schools, covering almost half of all state schools.

• $100 million over the next five years for urgent and essential infrastructure work.

This means classrooms and schools will soon get a makeover, with improved, more digitalized facilities, all scheduled with many projects coming during the summer holidays. Importantly, this will not only benefit students and teachers though that is the intention, but this will also provide work opportunities for builders, plumbers, roofers and other tradespeople.

Ms Stanford highlighted that the Government has already halved the cost of building new classrooms from $1.2 million to $620,000, by focusing on smarter solutions such as offsite manufacturing. Schools are also seeing better communication and greater certainty around property planning.

“This is about supporting schools, parents, and communities while keeping our tradespeople busy,” she said. “We’re accelerating work that was always needed to prevent bigger problems in the future.”

With a mix of new funding, money from Budget 24, Ministry baselines and brought-forward allocations, this package represents not just an investment in schools but in the wider economy too. Students, teachers and communities can look forward to safer, stronger and more modern learning spaces, a true investment in the future.