Business. Scoop » Sun Shines For 13 Gisborne Schools In $30m Solar Scheme
Article – Imogen Brophy – Local Democracy ReporterSchools were selected based on energy efficiency, higher energy costs, resilience needs and upcoming gas or diesel boiler replacements, said East Coast MP. . .
Article – Imogen Brophy – Local Democracy ReporterSchools were selected based on energy efficiency, higher energy costs, resilience needs and upcoming gas or diesel boiler replacements, said East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick. August 10, 2026GisborneThirteen Gisborne schools are to be included in a government-funded $30 million solar panel project. The Solar on Schools project will provide panels to 500 schools nationwide over three years. In Tairāwhiti, Lytton and Gisborne Boys’ high schools will get a solar set-up with a recommended output of 30 kilowatt peak (kWp), while Ruatōria-based Ngata Memorial College will get 20kWp. The remaining 10 schools, including Tolaga Bay Area School, Muriwai School and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori ō Whatatutu, will each get 10kWp set-ups. East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick said the scheme would help schools reduce electricity costs while strengthening their resilience. “Schools are facing the same pressures as households and businesses when it comes to rising operating costs, so finding practical ways to reduce their power bills makes good sense. “On average, larger schools are expected to save around $8000 a year on electricity. That is money that can stay within our schools and be put towards what matters most – supporting our students and teachers in the classroom. ”Schools were selected based on energy efficiency, higher energy costs, resilience needs and upcoming gas or diesel boiler replacements, Kirkpatrick said. “I’m looking forward to seeing this programme move from announcement to installation and seeing the benefits delivered in schools across the East Coast. ” Gisborne Boys’ High School principal Tom Cairns welcomed the decision. “We’d taken out our gas heating a year or two ago, so we were in a position where we’re going to be running on electricity and running air conditioning. ”The installation would help with “exorbitant” cost increases and he hoped it would provide long-term savings for the school and Ministry of Education. Gisborne Boys’ High and Ngata Memorial College had previously explored solar installation, but the cost of independent installation was too high. Ngata principal Peter Heron said the Government initiative was “awesome”. “It’ll cut costs in terms of our own bills, but more importantly, it’s going to increase resilience because with the weather events that come through we can have issues with power and connections up here. ”When power lines were damaged or power outages occurred, Heron said the school would be able to function as usual and key facilities like toilets would be unaffected. While many students lived remotely and used solar, he said the panels would help the school promote clean energy to its ākonga [students]. Full details about installation and providers are yet to come, but site assessments are expected from December. Heron said he hoped students would be able to learn about the impact the panels had on the school’s electricity through app-recorded data. Full list of Tairāwhiti schools receiving solar: Gisborne Boys’ High School – 30kWp Lytton High School – 30 Ngata Memorial College – 20 Gisborne Central School – 10 Hatea-a-Rangi – 10 Hiruharama School – 10 Muriwai School – 10 Ngātapa School -10 Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Whatatutu – 10 Tiniroto School – 10 TKKM o Nga Uri A Maui – 10 Tolaga Bay Area School – 10 Whāngārā School – 10LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. Content Sourced fromscoop. co. nzOriginal url