New school and 59 classrooms coming to booming South Island areas

Friday, 5 June 2026

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon with Education Minister Erica Stanford.

The Government is spending $62.5 million to deliver 59 new classrooms and fund school upgrades across the South Island.

The investment includes building a brand-new, 18-classroom primary school for Lincoln South.

The funding targets rapidly growing communities under roll pressure, including expansions at schools in Darfield, Rolleston, and Christchurch's Somerfield.

Education Minister Erica Stanford stated this package brings total Government spending on South Island school growth over the past three Budgets to approximately $300 million.

The Government will spend $62.5 million on new classrooms and school upgrades across the South Island, including a new primary school in Lincoln South and expansions at schools in Darfield, Rolleston and Christchurch’s Somerfield.

Education Minister Erica Stanford announced the funding package during a visit to Darfield High School on Friday, saying it would deliver 59 new classrooms across the South Island and fund upgrades at several existing schools.

Rolleston is the country’s fastest-growing territorial authority. (File photo)

The investment comes as growing communities in Canterbury continue to put pressure on school rolls, particularly in Rolleston, the country’s fastest-growing territorial authority, along with Lincoln and Darfield.

In Canterbury, the funding includes an 18-classroom primary school for Lincoln South, four new classrooms at Darfield School, six at Darfield High School, four at Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo, two at Allenton School, two at Amuri Area School and the next stage of expansion at Rolleston College.

Stanford said the latest funding brought total Government investment in South Island school growth projects over the past three Budgets to about $300 million.

Outside Canterbury, additional classrooms are planned for Fiordland College, Heddon Bush School, South Westland Area School and Hāwea Flat School.

The package also includes learning support facilities, with two additional classrooms at Maitai School and two satellite classrooms for Maitai students at Springlands School.

The Government says it is increasingly using standardised and modular designs for new classrooms, which it says has reduced construction costs and shortened delivery times.

Funding has also been set aside to purchase land for a future high school in Queenstown.

Separately, Amuri Area School, Logan Park High School, Southland Boys' High School and Southland Girls’ High School will receive funding to address property condition issues. The Education Ministry will work with those schools to finalise project scopes in the coming months.

Stanford said further school property announcements were expected in coming weeks.