Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins, has announced hundreds of small or remote state schools will be upgraded as a part of a $160 million property improvement programme.
"The Government went hard and early on our package to support businesses, and we're now bringing forward infrastructure projects to reboot the economy.
"This upgrade package is a part of a pipeline of investments to improve our schools and it will create and support jobs for local tradespeople and businesses."
A focus will be hiring local builders, plumbers, carpenters, roofers, technicians, and landscapers who will, in turn, need to buy supplies from local stores.
Classrooms will be tested to assess lighting quality, noise levels, and temperature.
Hipkins also announced funding from the Sustainability Contestable Fund to support projects at 53 schools around New Zealand.
"A total investment of nearly $2.5 million has been allocated today to the first group of successful schools, with additional funding for round two later this year. Projects will save schools money and reduce emissions.
"Nearly half of the approved applications were for solar panels. Other innovations included rainwater collection, water conservation initiatives, and different ways to compost and recycle."
Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw, welcomed the investment , which was another example of the progress to ensure clean, environmentally friendly solutions are part of everyday lives.
"Children today are growing up worried about the impact climate change will have on their future. This Government is helping to make sure the places they go to learn can be a part of the solution."
All the school projects under the $400 million School Investment Package have now been given the go-ahead, said Hipkins.
"With the country now at Alert Level three, construction work will be restarting at almost 250 schools over the next few days.''
You can find out more about what these projects include here.