In summary, the Government announced that it will:

1. Continue driving improvements to school property, including the shift we’re making toward cost-effective and repeatable designs.
2. Establish a Functional Chief Executive (FCE) within the Ministry of Education for a two-year term to lead school property and network functions in the short-term and prepare for future change.
3. Establish an external investment panel to support the FCE.
4. Consider options for a new model or entity that separates school property policy from operational delivery. The Government expects to take decisions on these options by mid-2025.

Supplementary guidance note: functional chief executives – Public Service Commission

These decisions are intended to support a more efficient and sustainable operating model for school property, and to provide greater transparency to schools and their communities.

This announcement does not change existing school property plans or projects, and there are no immediate changes that affect schools. The work already underway to drive improvements to school property will continue.

See the Minister's release:

Response to Ministerial Inquiry into School Property – Beehive

Inquiry and background#

Ministerial Inquiry into School Property – Beehive

The inquiry provided advice to the Minister of Education on the efficiency and effectiveness of the property planning and delivery function of the Ministry.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully was the lead independent reviewer. Hon McCully was supported by Mark Binns as independent reviewer.