School designers spend ‘relatively modest’, InfraComm says

The Ministry of Education spent $467m on building design consultants between 2019 and 2023. (Image: NZME)

Tue, 05 Mar 2024

Education minister Erica Stanford says “fancy architects” are one of the reasons she launched an inquiry into school buildings, but official data reveals the Ministry of Education's cost of designers has remained below 10% of capital spending.Stanford last week announced an inquiry into school properties, citing cost escalations and overspending on “bespoke” designs. The move followed the ministry pausing up to 350 school projects in various stages of completion to review them.The department spent $467 million in the...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Property

Du Val pair ordered to pay costs

The Clarkes are to pay the markets regulator following the asset seizure hearing.

Maria Slade 1:00pm

Property

Auckland developer collapse leaves $40m in debt

Between all firms, debts with the IRD are about $25 million.

Gregor Thompson 11:56am

Auckland developer collapse leaves $40m in debt

Markets

Trump's trade war hits the NZX

The kiwi dollar fell to a six-month low against the greenback.

Rebecca Howard 11:40am

Sponsored

The risks of powering New Zealand’s data boom

Sydney has curbed data centres to save power and water. Can New Zealand plan more wisely?

Dentons

Sponsored

Spedding Rd powers Auckland growth

$56m in new infrastructure unlocks business opportunities.

Oyster Capital Spedding Road

More Infrastructure

Infrastructure

Aratere sold for scrap, price deemed commercially sensitive

The Aratere ferry has been sold to a specialist recycling shipyard in India for an undisclosed amount.“Details of the sale price are commercially sensitive,” Duncan Roy, executive general manager of Interislander, said. The ferry was retired last August to make way for the port...

Rebecca Howard 10 Oct 2025