Kaiapoi School At Capacity Just 7 Years After Redevelopment

Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 5:22 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

A North Canterbury school is hoping the Ministry of Education will answer its call for more classrooms as its students chose education over an uncertain job market.

Kaiapoi High School was redeveloped in 2018, following the earthquakes, with a capacity of 1100 students, but now has a roll of 1085 with more growth anticipated over the next few years.

Kaiapoi High School principal Jason Reid said while year 9 enrolments have ‘‘plateaued’’, students are staying at school for longer due to the economic uncertainty.

‘‘Our roll has kept growing because of the high level of youth unemployment, so we need to push harder because we are at capacity now. If you look at the way other schools in our catchment area are growing, we can see the growth coming.’’

While students staying at school longer is a good thing, Mr Reid said it does place pressure of schools to stay relevant.

‘‘We need to make sure schools are providing what a student needs. A student who would have normally gone into the workplace needs to know that high school is still providing value for them.’’

Mr Reid said they are lucky to have board-owned buildings to teach in.

‘‘It means we are not teaching in corridors like some schools. However, I would like to be proactive so in two to three years we are not still having these conversations.’’

The school’s 10-year property plan has provision for more buildings, but Ministry of Education regional infrastructure manager southern Simon Cruickshank said no building projects were in the work programme.

While there has been rapid growth over the last five years, Mr Cruickshank said the school has experienced stable year 9 intakes since 2021.

‘‘Despite this, we are expecting growth in the next few years which is why we continue to actively monitor school roll trends, residential development, and subdivision approvals to support the local education network.

‘‘Updated population projections from Stats NZ, expected later this year, will help inform our planning for population change in the Waimakariri district.’’

He said the Ministry is actively engaged with the Waimakariri District Plan Review process to ensure future schooling needs are considered.

Tuahiwi School is opening six new classrooms in term two, Kaiapoi Borough School opened new classrooms in 2023, and Woodend and Kaiapoi North Schools are in negotiations with the Ministry to support roll growth.

The Kaiapoi High School board of trustees has been contacted for comment.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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