8. PAUL QUINN (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What recent announcements has the Government made to fast track school building projects?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) Link to this
Last week I met with representatives of the four Upper Hutt schools that the Prime Minister, John Key, had pledged before the election would receive an additional—that is, an extra—$30 million in school property funding, and I outlined the share of this funding that each school will receive. The schools will receive an overall package of $44.6 million, made up of the $14.6 million already allocated and the additional, extra, over-and-above $30 million that this Government promised and is now delivering on. The significantly increased package for each school will allow these schools to address 100 percent of their essential infrastructure projects, to replace all building projects that are beyond their economic life, and to complete 70 percent of their lesser priority projects.
The previous Government was content to let three successive education Ministers maintain a funding freeze while they toyed with these schools, the Upper Hutt community, and a whole cohort of students—in fact, for some students, for their entire school life—over the idea of having a super-school. The extra funding that this Government has made available allows the schools to modernise and recognises that these schools and the Upper Hutt community were treated disgracefully by the previous Government.
Hon Chris CarterIs the Minister aware that her officials told members of the Education and Science Committee on 18 February that very little of the extra school property money was new money; if so, which schools missed out in order to fast track her so-called stimulus package?
I am delighted to tell the member that these four schools have not missed out on anything. In fact, they have got an extra $30 million from this Government—extra money that is going to those schools, which that member, when he was a Minister, would not give even an idea that they could get on with these building projects. That member was content to let those students rot in classrooms that were growing mushrooms in the wall.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Minister was asked where the money came from. She has not told us that.
Mr SPEAKERIf the member reflects back, he may recollect that he asked whether the Minister was “aware”. When he asks whether the Minister is aware of something, the answer will not be very precise.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I point out that the Minister did not tell us whether she was aware, either.
The honourable member is seeking a little too much assistance. Members need to be aware of the fact that when they ask whether a Minister is aware of something, the answer will never be very precise.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Tēnā koe, Mr Speaker. Kia ora tātou. Which school building projects is the Minister fast tracking to support the increasing demand for Māori immersion that has resulted from population growth and calls from iwi for kura kaupapa Māori?
The Government will continue to make announcements about bringing forward school building projects in the future, and I intend to work with my Associate Minister the Hon Dr Sharples to ensure there is provision for parents who wish to send their children to kura. But I am aware that the process has begun, in the member’s own electorate, to construct a kura kaupapa in Tauranga.
Hone HarawiraTēnā koe, Mr Speaker. How will the building projects respond to the significant population growth, particularly in the Māori population, forecast for parts of Auckland, including Waitakere and Hingaia in Te Tai Tokerau electorate?