Pāpāmoa College is in dire need of expansion due to the increasing roll growth, but the Ministry of Education has paused a $60 million building project for the expansion of Pāpāmoa College.

The reason for the pause - rising costs, budget cuts, changing roll growth forecasts and reprioritisation.

“The expansion project at Pāpāmoa College was to provide additional capacity to the school through the construction of an administration block, a technology block, two teaching blocks, a second sports hall and whare,” says Ministry of Education head of property Sam Fowler.

“The two teaching blocks have been delivered, and construction on the administration and technology blocks is underway.

“In January this year, the College was advised that the construction of the whare and additional sports hall were paused while the relative priority of this investment was considered.

“Since September 2023, a number of projects have been paused while we explore more cost-effective options or because the expected roll growth has not occurred or forecast growth has changed. 

“A small number have also been paused while we determine their relative priority to other investments to make sure we are making the right investment at the right school and at the right time to maximise the benefit of our investments for all schools.”   

Pāpāmoa College principal Iva Ropati is devastated by this decision.

“We are extremely disappointed at the Ministry of Education’s decision to cancel our two remaining building projects.

“We believe the short-sightedness of the Ministry and Government decision-makers will result in the loss of learning space and progress for our school.

“We are experiencing rapid student roll growth and the buildings were an essential part of our infrastructure to deliver core curriculum.

“We have an expected roll of 2000 students by 2025, which is growing by 50-100 students a year.

“The region is one of the fastest-growing suburbs in Tauranga and we will not have the capacity within the next few years to cater for student learning.

“We are a school that has appropriately responded to a nationwide call for better student outcomes and last year enjoyed significantly better NCEA achievement rates.

“At level 1, we improved by 15 per cent and at level 3 and UE by over 12 per cent.

“A possible and likely consequence of not having a learning space jeopardises further improvements and future aspirational goals that the college has set.

“We do not think it is appropriate that schools like ours or the wider education sector should be the target of cost-cutting due to the previous government’s spending behaviour.

“We think it is absurd that we are having to compromise the learning of young people because of ill-informed and poor decision-making from the very people who need to support the work of schools within our NZ communities.

“Despite our formal communication to both the Ministry of Education and a letter to the Minister, we have not received a response, leaving us disheartened and angry.”