OIA: 1353607 Appendix A
Information Update: Kumeū Secondary Site
To:
Hon Erica Stanford, Minister of Education
Date:
5 March 2025
Priority:
Low
Security Level:
In-Confidence
METIS No:
1343686
Drafter:
Clive Huggins
DDI:
07 5717857
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Key Contact and Hautū | Jerome Sheppard
DDI:
04 44394685
Deputy Secretary:
FCE, School Property
Act
Request
To provide an update on the search for land in Kumeū (for a new secondary school) and the
due diligence undertaken.
Information
1.
In July 2021 Ministry Network recommended that work should be initiated to acquire a
site for a new state secondary school in Kumeū. At that time, student population
projections suggested a new school could be required from 2027. This advice was
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predicated on Auckland Council District Plan changes and the sustained pace of
enabling infrastructure and delivery of residential development. Annex 1 provides an
overview of the forecast population growth in Kumeū and surrounding areas (yellow).
2.
The Ministry began evaluating potential locations and influencing factors in September
2021. Significant factors influencing school location at this time were the proposal to
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construct a new transport corridor (bypassing the town centre), uncertainty regarding
zoning and Auckland Council direction to locate within the existing urban boundaries.
3.
In addition, environmental constraints (flooding is a potential hazard) and generally
the
poor ground conditions feature as important considerations in Kumeū and pose a risk
of cost escalation.
4.
9(2)(j)
The highest ranked
site
under
9(2)(j)
was recommended to be advanced for acquisition
negotiations. The proposed combined site is 9(2)(j) , centrally located and has good
road frontage. 9(2)(j)
The location of the sites is shown in Annex 2.
5.
In December 2022 the Ministry engaged a Land Information New Zealand accredited
supplier to assist the Ministry with formal Public Works Act 1981 acquisition
negotiations. Expressions of interest were made to both landowners in December
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2022.
6.
One landowner declined to meet, the other commenced engagement with the Ministry
and its consultants. The Ministry commenced additional due diligence and information
to support a valuation.
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9(2)(j)
7.
8.
Obtaining the necessary due diligence on 9(2)(j)
was sporadic due to limited
access to site and differences of opinion on valuation methodology introduced delays.
This is not unusual when the Ministry seeks to acquire land from private landowners.
9.
Valuation reports on behalf of the Crown and the owner were completed in October
2023. The Crown’s valuation placed the current market value at 9(2)(j)
plus GST1982
(if any).
10.
A valuation report for the landowner placed the current market value at 9(2)(j)
.
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However, in an email dated 1 December 2023 their solicitor reported an expectation of
value at 9(2)(j)
and reported his client now had no intention to sell the property.
11.
Since January 2024 the Ministry has revisited the original site evaluation report to
consider alternative site options and whether acquisition by compulsion is a viable
pathway.
12.
Until the 2024/25 financial year land acquisitions were funded from baseline and
reimbursed by Treasury in the following financial year. It was the Ministry’s intention in
early 2024 to continue to explore acquisition options for the Kumeū requirement.
However, new guidelines outlined within Cabinet Office circular (23) 9 removed this
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option.
13.
Whilst the Kumeū secondary requirement was signalled as a regional priority in the
2024/25 financial year, the national prioritisation process and availability of budget
funding meant this project was not funded. As a result, Public Works Act negotiations
to acquire a site were paused. Official
14.
In December 2024, Network revised the desired opening date to 2029 and provided
further advice on the overall Northwest network requirements (including the provision
of other new primary and secondary schools). Network maintain that the optimum
the
location for the school is as per the 2021 advice.
15.
9(2)(j)
under
Next Steps
16.
An update of the 2022 site evaluation report will be commissioned within the next
month. This update report is expected to be prepared by June 2025.
17.
As part of the re-evaluation of sites the Ministry will evaluate the benefits/disbenefits of
aligning the site location with the optimum network location.
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18.
Progression of formal negotiations with landowners will be subject to the prioritisation
process and budget announcements.
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Annex 1: Forecast areas of population intensification in Kumeū and surrounding areas. Future urban developments are shown in yellow.
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Annex 2: Proposed sites for secondary school in Kumeū. The Ministry is progressing with negotiations 9(2)(j)
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