Education Minister Erica Stanford. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
The government is increasing a major school property grant for the first time since 2010.
Education Minister Erica Stanford announced on Wednesday the base rate for five-year agreement or 5YA funding would increase 50 percent next year.
That would take the rate from $30 per square metre to $45 and the minimum allocation for the smallest schools would double to $90,000.
Schools used the money to upgrade or replace existing property.
The Education Ministry said for the 2026/27 financial year, the change would take 5YA spending from $192m to $276m - an increase of $84m.
It said over the full five-year cycle of allocations, the increase would be worth $300m.
The ministry said the government increased depreciation funding for school property in its Budgets this year and last.
"This included $100m in ongoing annual funding to start from 2028/29, which enables an enduring increase in 5YA base rates," it said.
The Secondary Principals Association lobbied for an increase earlier this year, arguing that building costs had increased a lot since the rate was set 15 years ago.
Stanford said the first group of 450 schools would get the new rates of funding in the middle of next year.
The change followed a $58 million property maintenance boost provided recently.
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