On 14 November 2013, Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Education Minister Hekia Parata announced that 80% of classrooms across greater Christchurch will be modernised within ten years changing the way children and young people learn.

The Government is investing $1.137 billion to rebuild and renew 115 schools in greater Christchurch over the next ten years.

The property programme will be the largest single investment ever in education in greater Christchurch. During the programme the Ministry will:

• construct 13 schools on new sites
• rebuild 10 schools on existing sites
• fully redevelop 34 schools
• moderately develop 58 schools.

This investment means the construction of more than 1,200 new teaching spaces, either new or replaced, and the repair of more than 1,200 others.

The investment in schools, together with the major investments in Canterbury University and Christchurch Polytechnic will give the education sector confidence about the future and provide a major boost to the overall recovery of greater Christchurch.

When the transformation process is complete over 80% of teaching spaces in the greater Christchurch area will be modern learning environments, resulting in one of the most modern schooling networks in the country.

Further details about the property programme are available in the information pack published on this page.

For more information email chchrenewal.property@minedu.govt.nz