Hon Anne Tolley
Minister of Education
Hon Steven Joyce
Minister for Communications and Information Technology

2 December 2009
Media Statement

100 more schools to receive broadband boost

100 more schools around the country are set to receive ICT upgrades as part of the Government’s commitment to high speed broadband in schools.

Education Minister Anne Tolley and Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce today announced a $21.5 million allocation to the schools in the latest round of the $150 million boost for school network upgrades, which is part of the government’s $1.5 billion Broadband Investment Initiative.

Upgrading the schools’ networks will mean teachers and students in every classroom will have the capability to access ultra-fast broadband.

The Ministers say access to high-speed broadband is a vital part of ensuring students get a 21st century education in a 21st century economy.

“We want to enable as many students as possible to take full advantage of the benefits provided by this technology,” says Mrs Tolley.

“This roll out will contribute to the government’s goal of ensuring our schools provide the best possible education to their students.”

It is expected that up to 2,000 schools will be upgraded in successive stages over the next six years.

Mr Joyce says broadband in schools is a key part of the government’s commitment to roll out ultra-fast broadband to New Zealanders where they live, work and study.

“The reality is, most children currently at school will spend much of their working lives online. It’s important that our schools have the capacity to prepare them for that.

”We believe ultra-fast broadband will deliver a social and economic step change in New Zealand – schools are one of our first priorities as the benefits of greater broadband capacity will be felt very quickly.

“That’s why we’re aiming to have 97% of all schools serving 99.7% of all students accessing ultra-fast broadband (with speeds of 100 Mbps or greater) within six years.”

More schools will be invited to upgrade their networks in early 2010.

A list of the 100 schools:

Allenton School/Ashburton
Amuri Area School/Culverden
Aorangi School (Rotorua)/Rotorua
Ashburton Borough School/Ashburton
Birkenhead College/Auckland
Bluff Community School/Bluff
Brightwater School/Brightwater
Central Southland College/Winton
Craighead Diocesan School/Timaru
Cullinane College/Wanganui
Flanshaw Road School/Auckland
Halfmoon Bay School/Stewart Island
Hastings Boys' High School/Hastings
Hato Paora College/Feilding
Hato Petera College/Auckland
Henley School (Nelson)/Richmond
Hillmorton High School/Christchurch
Hinds School/Ashburton District
Hunterville Consolidated School/Hunterville
Ilam School/Christchurch
Insoll Avenue School/Hamilton
Isleworth School/Christchurch
Kaikorai Valley College/Dunedin
Kaitaia College/Kaitaia
Kavanagh College/Dunedin
Lauriston School/Ashburton
Leamington School/Cambridge
Linwood North School/Christchurch
Logan Park High School/Dunedin
Long Bay College/Auckland
Long Bay School/Auckland
Mackenzie College/Fairlie
Manawatu College/Foxton
Mangamaire Country School/Pahiatua
Mangere Bridge School/Auckland
Mangere Central School/Auckland
Manurewa High School/Auckland
Manurewa Intermediate/Auckland
Marlborough Girls' College/Blenheim
Marshland School/Christchurch
Mayfield School (Mid-Canterbury)/Mayfield
Mercury Bay Area School/Whitianga
Methven School/Methven
Motueka High School/Motueka
Mount Hutt College/Methven
Myross Bush School/Invercargill
Nayland College/Nelson
Nayland Primary School/Nelson
Nelson Intermediate/Nelson
Northern Southland College/Lumsden
Northland College/Kaikohe
One Tree Point School/One Tree Point
Opononi Area School/Kaikohe
Opunake High School/Opunake
Otahuhu College/Auckland
Otonga Road School/Rotorua
Our Lady of Fatima School (Chch)/Christchurch
Pahiatua School/Pahiatua
Pakuranga College/Auckland
Parklands School (Motueka)/Motueka
Pleasant Point Primary School/Pleasant Point
Rai Valley Area School/Rai Valley
Rangitahi College/Via Rotorua
Reefton Area School/Reefton
Richmond School (Nelson)/Richmond
Riverview School/Kerikeri
Rongotea School/Rongotea
Royal Oak Intermediate School/Auckland
Royal Oak School/Auckland
Southland Girls' High School/Invercargill
St Joseph's School (Ashburton)/Ashburton
St Mary's Diocesan School (Stratford)/Stratford
St Peter's College (Palmerston North)/Palmerston North
Sunny Hills School/Auckland
Takapuna School/Auckland
Tauraroa Area School/Whangarei
Tawa College/Wellington
Tawa Intermediate/Wellington
Te Aute College/Pukehou
Te Kuiti High School/Te Kuiti
Te Kura o Ratana/Wanganui
Te Puke High School/Te Puke
Terrace End School/Palmerston North
Tikipunga High School/Whangarei
Timaru Girls' High School/Timaru
TKKM o Ngati Ruanui/Hawera
TKKM o Te Atihaunui-A-Paparangi/Wanganui
Tokoroa High School/Tokoroa
Tokoroa Intermediate/Tokoroa
Tongariro School/Turangi
Twizel Area School/Twizel
Villa Maria College/Christchurch
Waerenga-O-Kuri School/Gisborne
Waipaoa Station School/Te Karaka
Wakefield School/Nelson
Wellington East Girls' College/Wellington
Westland High School/Hokitika
Whangamata Area School/Whangamata
Whangarei Boys' High School/Whangarei
Witherlea School/Blenheim

ENDS

© Scoop Media