On this page
Budget 2026 provides $491.9 million capital expenditure (capex) and $66.6 million operating expenditure (opex) over 4 years to grow and maintain the education property portfolio.
Key initiatives#
The following key initiatives will be implemented.
- $334.3 million will grow and expand the English and kaupapa Māori education property portfolio to add hundreds of new classrooms for thousands of students.
- $164.8 million will go towards maintaining and upgrading the portfolio, including learning support modifications.
Growing the property portfolio#
- $309.6 million capex
- $24.7 million opex
This will increase capacity in the school network, building new schools and classrooms. Funding will be allocated across priority new school projects, land acquisition and adding additional capacity in English, kaupapa Māori and learning support schools.
Maintenance and upgrades#
- $160 million capex
- $4.8 million opex
This provides additional capital funding to maintain and upgrade the school property portfolio.
The funding delivers:
- up to 10 large-scale redevelopments to bring the schools in most critical need up to standard
- up to 150 property modifications to provide students with equitable access to education – these modifications include purchase and installation of automatic doors, lifts, fencing, hoists and bathroom modifications
- improved drinking water quality for some self-supplied schools.
Operating cost pressures#
- $25 million opex
This provides funding in response to increased costs to operate the school property portfolio, such as lease and building warrant of fitness costs. Funding is time-limited to allow for the new operating model within the New Zealand School Property Agency to take effect.
General litigation resolution agreement#
- $22.3 million capex
- $12.1 million opex
This provides funding to address implementation costs for the Ministry of Education arising from the resolution agreement for the Stafford v Attorney-General High Court case.
Mōhiohio anō
