Quinn Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Quinn Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:653;Page:1969] 
8.  
PAUL QUINN (National) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: What recent announcements has the Government made to fast track school building projects? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) 
: 
 Last week I met with representatives of the four Upper Hutt schools that the Prime Minister John Key had pledged before the election would receive an additional—that is an extra—$30 million in school property funding and I outlined the share of this funding that each school will receive. The schools will receive an overall package of $44.6 million made up of the $14.6 million already allocated and the additional extra over-and-above $30 million that this Government promised and is now delivering on. The significantly increased package for each school will allow these schools to address 100 percent of their essential infrastructure projects to replace all building projects that are beyond their economic life and to complete 70 percent of their lesser priority projects. 
Paul Quinn 
: Why was this additional funding given to these four schools? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: The previous Government was content to let three successive education Ministers maintain a funding freeze while they toyed with these schools the Upper Hutt community and a whole cohort of students—in fact for some students for their entire school life—over the idea of having a super-school. The extra funding that this Government has made available allows the schools to modernise and recognises that these schools and the Upper Hutt community were treated disgracefully by the previous Government. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: Is the Minister aware that her officials told members of the Education and Science Committee on 18 February that very little of the extra school property money was new money; if so which schools missed out in order to fast track her so-called stimulus package? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I am delighted to tell the member that these four schools have not missed out on anything. In fact they have got an extra $30 million from this Government—extra money that is going to those schools which that member when he was a Minister would not give even an idea that they could get on with these building projects. That member was content to let those students rot in classrooms that were growing mushrooms in the wall. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister was asked where the money came from. She has not told us that. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: If the member reflects back he may recollect that he asked whether the Minister was “aware”. When he asks whether the Minister is aware of something the answer will not be very precise. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I point out that the Minister did not tell us whether she was aware either. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The honourable member is seeking a little too much assistance. Members need to be aware of the fact that when they ask whether a Minister is aware of something the answer will never be very precise. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: Tena koe Mr Speaker. Kia ora tatou. Which school building projects is the Minister fast tracking to support the increasing demand for Maori immersion that has resulted from population growth and calls from iwi for kura kaupapa Maori? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: The Government will continue to make announcements about bringing forward school building projects in the future and I intend to work with my Associate Minister the Hon Dr Sharples to ensure there is provision for parents who wish to send their children to kura. But I am aware that the process has begun in the member’s own electorate to construct a kura kaupapa in Tauranga. 
Hone Harawira 
: Tena koe Mr Speaker. How will the building projects respond to the significant population growth particularly in the Maori population forecast for parts of Auckland including Waitakere and Hingaia in Te Tai Tokerau electorate? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I am pleased to tell the member that one of the school building projects that this Government is bringing forward is the building of Hingaia Primary School in his own electorate. The building of this school is being brought forward by 2 years with construction to start early next year.