The Government is investing more than $300m to complete the rebuild or refurbishment of schools damaged during the Christchurch earthquakes.
The Christchurch Schools Rebuild project began in 2013 to either rebuild or repair 115 schools in the greater Christchurch region that were damaged during the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.
So far, $1.3 billion has been invested into the programme and 81 schools have either been refurbished, rebuilt or built, benefiting more than 33,000 students.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is in Christchurch on Friday and announced a further $301 million to help with work on the final group of schools.
"I know this additional funding will give certainty to the remaining schools in the programme, 27 of which are in construction already," he said.
A further five schools are in the planning and design stages, while two are yet to enter the programme. It's planned that all remaining schools in the programme are completed in the next two years.
"As Education Minister I have had the absolute privilege of seeing new schools open, built from scratch or restored around Christchurch over the past five years," Chris Hipkins said.
"I'm pleased to be back in Christchurch today to see further progress and to announce additional funding to complete all 115 of these significant school projects."
He said Christchurch went "through so much" in 2010 and 2011.
"Especially now, following Cyclone Gabrielle and the devastation that has caused across the North Island, it is incredibly heartening to see how far Christchurch has come since then."
The Ministry of Education says by the end of the programme, the greater Christchurch area "will have one of the most modern schooling networks in the country, which will serve as a platform for student learning well into the future".
"The new and redeveloped schools are future focused to respond to the needs of today's learnings and are able to efficiently accommodate changes in teaching and learning over time."
