$62.5 Million School Investment to Expand South Island Classrooms

The Ministry of Education will now work with each school to finalise project details and begin delivery in the coming months.

Students across the South Island are set to benefit from a major education infrastructure package after the Government announced a $62.5 million investment for new classrooms and school upgrades.

Education Minister Erica Stanford revealed the funding during a visit to Darfield High School, saying the investment will deliver 59 additional classrooms and support upgrades at schools facing increasing enrolment pressure. The funding comes as several South Island communities continue to grow, particularly in Canterbury, where housing developments are attracting more families each year. Areas such as Rolleston, Lincoln and Darfield have experienced strong population growth, creating additional demand for school places and learning facilities.

Stanford said the investment will help ensure students have access to safe, modern and practical learning environments while schools are better prepared for future growth.

Canterbury Receives Major Share of New Classrooms

A significant portion of the funding has been directed toward Canterbury schools, reflecting the rapid expansion occurring across the region. The package includes funding for a new 18-classroom primary school in Lincoln South, along with four additional classrooms at Darfield School and six more at Darfield High School. Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo will receive four new classrooms, while Allenton School and Amuri Area School will each gain two additional teaching spaces. Rolleston College will also move forward with its next stage of expansion to accommodate rising student numbers.

Beyond Canterbury, several other South Island schools will receive new classrooms. Fiordland College is set to gain two classrooms, Heddon Bush School will receive one, South Westland Area School will add two, and Hāwea Flat School will expand with four new classrooms. The latest announcement brings total Government investment in South Island school growth projects across the last three Budgets to approximately $300 million.

Learning Support and School Upgrades Included

The investment package extends beyond mainstream classroom growth. Maitai School will receive two additional classrooms at its main site, while Springlands School will host two learning support satellite classrooms for Maitai School students. Funding has also been allocated to address building condition issues at four schools that require significant property improvements. These include Amuri Area School, Logan Park High School, Southland Boys High School and Southland Girls High School. The Ministry of Education will now work with each school to finalise project details and begin delivery in the coming months.

Stanford said the Government has reduced the average cost of new classrooms through greater use of standardised and modular building designs. This approach allows construction to begin sooner, stretches public funding further and delivers new learning spaces more efficiently. Alongside the classroom projects, funding has also been reserved to secure a future site for a new high school in Queenstown, providing capacity for one of New Zealand's fastest-growing regions. The investment is expected to support local construction jobs while ensuring schools can meet the needs of expanding communities across the South Island.