$400m to upgrade schools

The Government is to spend $396 million on improving school property.

The one-off cash injection will be worth $693 per state school student, with each school receiving a maximum of $400,000.

No school will receive less than $50,000, and the ones that help special needs students will all receive $200,000.

It is the first major investment brought forward by the Government’s decision to increase its borrowing to make infrastructure investments.

It was the largest investment in school property in 25 years – and schools will need to spend it within two years. It is available to spend immediately.

On Saturday, Finance Minister Grant Robertson signalled the spend-up during his speech at the Labour Party’s annual conference, but did not reveal the price tag or the specific projects.

The Government would borrow more money to bring forward several major infrastructure projects, after criticism it was not priming the economy with infrastructure spending.

It is also offering the living wage to all school support staff, including teacher aides and cleaners.

Announcing the investment yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the Government was taking advantage of historically low interest rates.

The work could include classroom upgrades, replacing roofing and guttering, upgrading stormwater drainage systems, installing energy efficient heating and lighting or resurfacing outdoor courts and paved areas.

‘‘This package is a real shot in the arm for our schools … I’ve visited plenty of schools and I’d be hard pressed to name one that didn’t have need. You hear horror stories about kids learning in damp, mouldy classrooms.’’

Education Minister Chris Hipkins said that in recent years many schools had to put off building projects and make do with patched-up classrooms and playgrounds.

The cash injection would be administered by the Ministry of Education and the money would need to be spent in the next two years. Only state schools opened before 2015 are eligible – just over 2000.

National leader Simon Bridges said the Government was spinning ‘‘business as usual’’ as stimulus.

‘‘Labour has failed to deliver on the infrastructure New Zealanders need, so no doubt they’ll be very cynical given this Government’s consistent big talk and failure to deliver, whether it’s Kiwi-Build, light rail and now this.’’