$2.7m for more local classrooms

Simon Bridges speaks to students at Matua Primary School. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges visited Matua Primary today to announce three new classrooms for the school.

They are among eight new classrooms being built in the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel, thanks to Ministry of Education investment.

Along with Matua Primary, Katikati Primary School will also receive three new classrooms, and Tairua School in the Coromandel will be getting two.

During this morning's announcement, Simon was welcomed by Matua Primary's kapa haka group, with assembled students of all ages looking on. This was followed by the singing of the school song.

Principal Craig Wallis then spoke in both Te Reo and English, welcoming all attendees and their 'very special guest.”

He asked the children what they thought Simon's role as Minister of Transport involved, to which a child replied: 'He's in charge of the whole school.”

Craig explained the minister 'helps our whole country by making rules about cars, buses and other transport.”

Simon then spoke, joking about Matua being the best suburb in the city, before revealing the news of the three new classrooms. This was met with audible gasps from some students.

He asked how many students were born in Tauranga, with around half putting their hands up. This was taken as an indication of the city's growth, and the need for more classrooms.

'We've had really strong growth recently, and these classrooms are about future-proofing the school,” he says.

'We want to keep Tauranga as the best place to grow up in New Zealand.”

When asked about the time frame for building the new classrooms, the minister was unable to give an end date.

'But we don't want to muck around. We want to children to be learning in, and enjoying, these new classrooms.”

The announcement is part of a second round of investments in new classrooms under Budget 2016, which provides $882.5 million for school property, including 480 classrooms nationwide to meet roll growth.

The news also follows the $18 million announced for a new school in the Pyes Pa area.

From Left: Matua Primary Board of Trustees Chair Stephen Tisch, Tauranga MP Simon Bridges, and Principal Craig Wallis. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

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3 comments

The cost is outrageous

Posted on 28-10-2016 13:41 | By Riverjade

2.7 mil to build 8 class rooms, and 18mil to build a school, no wonder the Government is broke. It is evident that these so called talented advisors/MPS just let us tax payers get ripped off


Blah blah...

Posted on 28-10-2016 14:02 | By penguin

...yes, we have heard it all before; strategic announcements like Xmas prezzies but actually political ones. What Bridges and the like omit saying is that these replacement/repairs or new builds were to happen anyway as part of life. Therefore it is nonsense to dress it up like gifts! Let's not be fooled by the rhetoric.


Once Again

Posted on 28-10-2016 15:28 | By Jitter

I agree fully with Penguin plus it is just another photo oportunity for Simple Simon.


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