It was such a delight to announce last week that Kumeu is getting a new high school!
In the previous edition of the Kumeu Courier I was able to hint that good news in this space was imminent. And last Friday afternoon, at Matua Ngaru School, I was so pleased to be joined by local parents, local school and other community leaders to share some of the detail. Admittedly there are still some details that we don’t yet have, including, mostly importantly, confirmation of when the school will be built and students accepted. It would be ideal if the answer to this question proves to be “2028” but I am wary of making timebound promises that may not be fulfilled exactly as planned - given the complexity of construction projects - as I’m conscious that local families will be making plans on the back of this information.
The key point for now, however, is land has been identified and the Ministry of Education is in the process of finalising its purchase. The site is adjacent to Huapai District School.
By way of background, I have been advocating strongly for increased secondary schooling capacity to serve families across Kumeû, Huapai, Riverhead and the wider northwest. With population growth continuing at pace, many parents have rightly expressed concern about long travel times and limited local options for their young ones. Access to quality education close to home is not a luxury — it is an essential part of building strong communities.
That is why I am so pleased that the Government has now confirmed plans for a new high school to serve our growing northwest population. This is a significant milestone and one that reflects the voices of local families, educators and community leaders who have made the case so persuasively.
The new school will help ensure that young people in our area can learn, grow and thrive without needing to travel long distances each day. Of course any moves that reduce congestion on northwest Auckland roads are important for this reason alone.
Having a school closer than either Kaipara College or Massey High School - both of which are excellent schools, I want to emphasise - also supports families in the Kumeu area by strengthening community connections and providing opportunities for students to participate more fully in sports, arts and cultural life close to home.
I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to share their views and experiences with me as we have worked towards this outcome. We’ve done petitions, news stories, letters, questions and Official Information Act requests together over several years.
To be clear, community advocacy has played an important role in getting us to this point.
I look forward to continuing to work with the Minister of Education (my friend and colleague Erica Stanford), local schools and the community as planning progresses. This investment in education is an investment in the future of our young people — and in the continued success of northwest Auckland. Bring it on!
