Public-private partnerships to build schools

Learn about public-private partnerships including which schools have been delivered under the current arrangements.

Level of compliance Main audience Other

Inform

  • Boards
  • Principals and tumuaki
  • Parents, caregivers and whānau

Current status

The Minister of Finance in the last Labour-led government indicated that the Government does not support the use of public-private partnerships for schools.

All schools for which existing public-private partnerships contracts have been signed, whether for new builds or rebuilds, are advancing as agreed. Four public-private partnerships schools are currently undergoing expansions, which are provided for under their contracts. These are listed below.

What a public-private partnership is

  • A public-private partnership (PPP) is an agreement between the Ministry of Education and a consortium of private companies to build a new school or rebuild an existing school.
  • The agreement is a single, long-term contract, usually for 25 years.
  • The agreement includes the ongoing maintenance of the property.

Under a PPP, the Ministry engages the private partner to design, finance, build and maintain a particular school. We pay the private partner quarterly once the new buildings are open. We reduce the payment if the school facilities do not meet the standards in the contract. This effectively provides a 25-year guarantee on that school’s buildings and service delivery.

The Government still owns the land and buildings. The principal and board is still responsible for all education matters but because it does not deal with property and maintenance issues, the board of a PPP school has more time to focus on education.

Public-private partnership schools 

PPP1 schools

The first 2 schools delivered through PPP are in Auckland.

  • Hobsonville Point Primary School opened in Term 1 2013 and is currently undergoing an expansion.
  • Hobsonville Point Secondary School opened in Term 1 2014 and is currently undergoing an expansion.

PPP2 schools

The second PPP contract provided for 3 new schools and the relocation of the existing Wakatipu High School.

  • Ormiston Junior College in Auckland opened in Term 1 2017 and is currently undergoing an expansion.
  • Rolleston College in Christchurch opened in Term 1 2017 and is currently undergoing an expansion.
  • Haeata Community Campus in Christchurch opened in Term 1 2017.
  • Wakatipu High School in Queenstown opened in Term 1 2018 and is currently undergoing an expansion.

PPP3 schools

The most recent PPP contract includes 3 new primary schools (2 in Auckland and 1 in Hamilton) and the relocation of 2 existing high schools to the QEII Park site in Christchurch.

  • Matua Ngaru School in Huapai Auckland opened in Term 1 2019 and is currently undergoing an expansion.
  • Te Ao Mārama Primary School in Hamilton opened in Term 1 2019.
  • Te Uho O Te Nikau Primary School in Flat Bush Auckland opened in Term 1 2019 and is currently undergoing an expansion.
  • Avonside Girls’ High School and Shirley Boys’ High School in Christchurch opened in Term 2 2019.

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