New school for Pokeno

Construction of a new school in Pokēno is expected to begin next year.

On October 17, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced funding for a new Year 1 to 8 primary school in Pokēno has been ring-fenced.

Funding for the new school was part of a $100 million package to reinvest in more new, safer, warm, and dry classrooms, she said.

“This investment is on top of the $713 million we’ve invested in school infrastructure since Budget 25. All of New Zealand’s almost 2,500 state and state-integrated schools will benefit.”

Port Waikato MP Andrew Bayly said he had been talking to Stanford for some time about the need for an extra school in this rapidly growing area.

“The school will include 12 general classrooms, two specialist classrooms, an admin area, hard courts and a multipurpose space, and is expected to get underway next year.”
Bayly told the Franklin Times the government recognised that Pokēno was a rapidly growing area.

“Our focus on offsite manufacturing to build modular classrooms using repeatable designs and simple, standard solutions means that new classrooms can be delivered far more quickly and efficiently where they are needed.”

Bayly said he expected construction to begin in September next year, with a possible completion date in December 2027.

He said he was also working towards securing a new secondary school in the area.

• Papakura Intermediate is also set to get six new classrooms, and four for the nearby Cosgrove School.