Education Minister thanked for fuel assistance actions

Last month, Erica Stanford announced that the Government has allocated $37 million towards replacing diesel boilers in 65 state schools and five state integrated schools. The upgrade is expected to save around 600,000 litres of diesel per year, delivering cost relief while improving long‑term resilience.

Ms Stanford also announced a temporary increase to Relief Teacher Transport Allowance mileage rates. Car reimbursement rates will rise from 37 cents to 83 cents per kilometre, and motorbike rates from 15 cents to 31 cents. The increase will apply for 12 months or until fuel prices ease to below $3 per litre for four consecutive weeks.

APIS chief executive Dr Kevin Shore said he had talked to the Ministry of Education, and it looks likely that $2.5 million of the $37 million allocated to replacing diesel boilers will be for the state integrated school sector.

“APIS had provided data to the Ministry of Education on state integrated schools who use diesel boilers, but we were not aware the Government was considering this funding, so it was a pleasant surprise,” said Dr Shore, who is also chief executive of the New Zealand Catholic Education Office. 

“The Minister is very keen to get this work completed as soon as possible and so I expect APIS will be briefed in the coming weeks and, once information is available, we will communicate with the proprietors who need to access these funds.

“I note the Minister also announced an increase in the transport allowance for relief teachers. This will be welcomed by all schools but particularly our isolated, small and rural schools who already struggle to find relief teachers without the impact of rising fuel costs. I have written to the Minister of Education to express our thanks for these two decisions.”

Ms Stanford said the Government’s priority is to ensure students are attending school and are engaged in their learning.

“Recently, I directed the Ministry of Education to contact every single school to understand the impact of fuel cost pressures on their individual circumstances so that targeted, temporary and timely responses can be designed,” she said.

“As a result of this engagement, we are rolling out interim support for the schools most likely to experience challenges from fuel cost-pressures, while simultaneously planning for a range of potential future scenarios.”

FULL STORY

NZCEO eNewsletter (Kōtui: School & Policy Updates/NZCEO)

Immediate fuel relief for school communities (Beehive)